When it comes to the problems of architecture, there are a lot of professionals who turn to nature to find solutions. The result of ‘biomimicry’ doesn’t only consist of interesting looking buildings, but this way it is also easier to integrate the buildings into an eco-friendly system.
(photo credit: www.ecofriend.com)
1. Fake Hills
Fake Hills is a building in Beihei that is supposed to offer housing to people, and just as the name suggests, the building has the shape of hills. It comes with undulated roofs. The good thing about the shape is that it secures automated air cleaning.
2. ITC Corporate Towers
The main point of this project has been sustainability. The interesting thing about the building is that it also accommodates vegetation that is able to grow vertically. There is a double skin system used, that doesn’t allow the heat of the sun to get in, but it uses the natural sunlight to maximum.
3. Gaudi’s Masterpiece
It is known that Gaudi turned to nature when he was looking for inspiration. This way the building ended up having a roof in the shape of magnolia leaves. Other elements that have been inspired by nature include the spiral staircases, gargoyles and honeycomb gates.
4. Cultural Center
This building can be found in Meudon La Foret, France. The building is made of organic concrete shells that look quite fragile, but in reality are very strong. In order to offer light to the building, there are photovoltaic cells on the walls. It has the shape of a canopy with trapezoidal walls.
5. Pini Pigneto
The focus of the design is on trees with leaves. The leaves in reality are solar panels that have been placed to get maximum sunlight and not to shed a shadow on the other panels. The trees are connected at the top for them to have more support. The good thing about the design is that it offers shade and it makes sure that the cells get charged.
6. Leaf House
This is a residential complex located in Australia. The roof of the building looks like a pile of leaves. The design makes sure that there is as much sunlight as possible in the house, but it limits the penetrating heat to reduce the energy use. The house blends in with the rest of nature, and so you feel like you are in the garden while you are actually inside the house in maximum comfort.