Application of Biomimetics to Architectural and Urban Design: a Review Across Scales
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sustainability Review Application of Biomimetics to Architectural and Urban Design: A Review across Scales Yuta Uchiyama 1 , Eduardo Blanco 2,3 and Ryo Kohsaka 1,* 1 Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya 4648601, Japan; [email protected] 2 Centre Européen d’Excellence en Biomimétisme de Senlis (CEEBIOS), 60300 Senlis, France; [email protected] 3 Centre d’Écologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, (CESCO)/MNHN, 75005 Paris, France * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 4 December 2019; Accepted: 1 November 2020; Published: 24 November 2020 Abstract: Application of biomimetics has expanded progressively to other fields in recent years, including urban and architectural design, scaling up from materials to a larger scale. Besides its contribution to design and functionality through a long evolutionary process, the philosophy of biomimetics contributes to a sustainable society at the conceptual level. The aim of this review is to shed light on trends in the application of biomimetics to architectural and urban design, in order to identify potential issues and successes resulting from implementation. In the application of biomimetics to architectural design, parts of individual “organisms”, including their form and surface structure, are frequently mimicked, whereas in urban design, on a larger scale, biomimetics is applied to mimic whole ecosystems. The overall trends of the reviewed research indicate future research necessity in the field of on biomimetic application in architectural and urban design, including Biophilia and Material. As for the scale of the applications, the urban-scale research is limited and it is a promising research which can facilitate the social implementation of biomimetics. As for facilitating methods of applications, it is instrumental to utilize different types of knowledge, such as traditional knowledge, and providing scientific clarification of functions and systems based on reviews. Thus, interdisciplinary research is required additionally to reach such goals. Keywords: biomimicry; built environment; interdisciplinary collaboration; sustainability; biophilia 1. Introduction Biomimetics is defined as “the interdisciplinary cooperation of biology and technology or other fields of innovation to solve practical problems through the functional analysis of biological systems, their abstraction into models, and the transfer into and application of these models to the solution” [1]. Biomimetics is an approach that develops solutions based on living systems, such as organisms or ecosystems. Although nature is mimicked, it is not re-productions but the requires further abstraction that solutions will derive from these models in nature and will align with life principles and potentially decrease the burden on the environment, as they may be less dependent on fossil fuels and more self-organizing and multifunctional, for example [2] The range of applications of biomimetics is wide and promises to foster innovation [3]. Since 2000, biomimetics has been progressively applied beyond conventional chemistry and expanded into material science and engineering, mostly at the centimeter scale [4]. Furthermore, biomimetics is increasingly applied to design in architecture and urban areas, at the meter or kilometer scales [5] (Figure1). 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Historical1. Historical trend trend of of biomimetics.biomimetics. Source: Source: Shimomura Shimomura (2015). (2015). BiomimeticsBiomimetics is an is an approach approach toward toward sustainable sustainable wh wholeole systems systems design design [6,7] [6 ,that7] that has hasthe potential the potential to developto develop ecological ecological solutions solutions to to a a given given problem.problem. However, However, it itdoes does not not necessarily necessarily contribute contribute to to ecologicalecological solutions; solutions; Gebeshuber Gebeshuber et et al. al. [ 8[8]] argueargue that designing designing sustainable sustainable products products is independent is independent fromfrom the specific the specific design design method. method. However,However, a notion a notion getting getting reinforced reinforced by scientistsby scientists and and designers designers is is that that biomimetic biomimetic innovation innovation must must be promoted to make the goal of a sustainable society real [9]. Contributions of the biomimetic be promoted to make the goal of a sustainable society real [9]. Contributions of the biomimetic approach approach not only to environmental sustainability but to economic sustainability have been not only to environmental sustainability but to economic sustainability have been demonstrated [10]. demonstrated [10]. Speck et al. [11] argue that sustainability, as a concept, cannot be transferred from Speckbiology et al. [ 11to innovation] argue that easily, sustainability, but that living as a systems concept, have cannot characteristics be transferred that, if from systematically biology to studied innovation easily,and but transferred, that living can systems help us haveto move characteristics toward sustainability. that, if systematically Pedersen Zari studied[12] listsand three transferred, main can helpmotivations us to move to apply toward biomimicry sustainability. approaches Pedersen in the Zari design [12 ]process. lists three The main first motivationsis related to tothe apply biomimicrydevelopment approaches of new in technologies the design and process. materials, The firstwithout is related concern to thefor ecological development performance, of new technologies and is and materials,called “biomimicry-for-innovation”; without concern for ecological the second, performance, aligned with and previous is called consideration, “biomimicry-for-innovation”; seeks better the second,ecological aligned performance with previous and is na consideration,med “biomimicry-fo seeksr-sustainability”. better ecological The performancelast, and least andexplored, is named “biomimicry-for-sustainability”.is related to the development Theof human last,and psychological least explored, well-being, is related and mostly to the developmentapplies to biophilic of human design theories. psychological well-being, and mostly applies to biophilic design theories. Although biomimetic approaches could have positive and negative effects on the environment Although biomimetic approaches could have positive and negative effects on the environment and and society, exploring a method to enhance the positive effects of the technology is urgently required society,[13]. exploring Wanieck aet method al. [14] toidentifies enhance and the analyzes positive 43 eff toolsects ofrelated the technology to biomimetics is urgently application required and [13]. Wanieckdiscusses et al. the [14 ]interconnection identifies and of analyzes these tools 43 toolsto facilitate related a toproblem-driven biomimetics applicationbiomimetic approach, and discusses but the interconnectionsustainability of is these not at tools the center to facilitate of the discussion. a problem-driven biomimetic approach, but sustainability is not at theIn center urban of and the discussion.architectural design, biomimetic concepts can be applied to tackle global Inenvironmental urban and issues architectural [12,15] Architecture design, biomimeticin modern cities concepts requires can a huge be appliedamount of to energy tackle for global environmentalconstruction, issues maintenance, [12,15] Architectureand operation, in directly modern and cities indirectly requires causing a huge global amount environmental of energy for construction,issues, such maintenance, as loss of biodiversity and operation, or climate directly change and through indirectly greenhouse causing gas global emissions environmental [16]. Urban issues, areas are responsible for 70% of global carbon emissions and are also the cradle of major current social such as loss of biodiversity or climate change through greenhouse gas emissions [16]. Urban areas problems [17]. It has been proposed that the biomimetic approach can address these challenges are responsible[15,18] at multiple for 70% scales, of global from single carbon mechanical emissions units and (materials) are also theto buildings, cradle of up major to entire current urban social problems [17]. It has been proposed that the biomimetic approach can address these challenges [15,18] at multiple scales, from single mechanical units (materials) to buildings, up to entire urban