Biomimicry offers a holistic and deeply rooted method for achieving true sustainability. Nature embodies more than four billion years of experience perfecting the designs and behaviors that make organisms and living systems thrive. This unique presentation was created by a biologist and architectural designer, both professionally trained in Biomimicry and sustainable building design.

1. Biomimicry
Emulating Nature’s Genius
Brightworks
Nicole Isle | Aron Bosworth

2. Biomimicry
An Introduction

3. Current Events
World’s Most Influential Designers

4. How does nature reduce drag?
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
WhalePower wind turbine blade design gains productivity by reducing drag
drag.
• 32% less drag
• 20% production increase

5. How Does Nature Use Pattern?
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
The InterfaceFLOR Entropy carpet tiles capitalize on the consistency of
inconsistency.
y
• Reduces waste
• Embraces diversity – broadens materials palette, competitor’s
waste = product feedstock!
p

6. How Does Nature Cool?
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
The Eastgate Centre in Harare Zimbabwe uses a natural cooling system
that pre tempers the air and exhausts through chimneys the same way
pre-tempers
termites do.
• 90% energy reduction for cooling loads

7. How Does Nature Manage Water?
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
Lavasa Hill Station near Pune, India in the Western Ghats uses a site
design that i i how th surrounding f
d i th t mimics h the di forest manages water and
t t d
controls erosion.
• Inspiration: Tree canopies, root systems and water storage

8. Biomimicry
Innovation
Makes ‘beyond sustainability’ accessible
M k ‘b d t i bilit ’ ibl
Broadens the solution space
Sustainability
Ecological literacy
Environmentalist ideal – ecological imperative

9. Biomimicry
“the conscious emulation of life’s genius”
g
Bio = life, living things
Bio = life living things
Mimic = simulate, emulate
Forethought, intention
Not a slavish re-creation,
understand context
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute
I t f th Bi i i I tit t
Janine Benyus, Co-founder Biomimicry Guild

10. 3.85 billion years ago
Life Appears
fe
3.5 billion years ago
Photosynthesis Evolves
Hist ry of Lif
H tor
1.5 billion years ago
Multi‐celled Organisms Appear
Fish Appear
Fish Appear 508 million years ago
430 million years ago
Land Plants Appear 350 million years ago
Amphibians Appear Homo Sapiens Sapiens Appears 246 million years ago
Mammals Appear Present Day 212 million years ago
Birds Appear
65 million years ago
Hominids Walk on Two Limbs Dinosaur Extinction 4 million years ago
50, 000 years ago

11. Evolution provides
3.85 billion years of trial and error, research and
3 85 billion years of trial and error research and
development,
and rigorous quality control testing that resulted in a
and rigorous quality control testing that resulted in a
99.9% failure rate,
so that the estimated
30 million different species of organisms living on earth
today are success stories.
They have figured out materials, forms, processes, systems, and
strategies needed to sustain themselves in the conditions on earth as it
t t i d dt t i th l i th diti th it
is today –
the very same conditions in which we must sustain
the very same conditions in which we must sustain
ourselves.

12. MENTOR MODEL MEASURE

13. Nature as MENTOR
quiet
your
cleverness
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute

14. Nature as MODEL

15. Mimicking Form
Hexagonal structure uses the
least material to create a
lattice of cells with minimal
surface area and the largest
surface area and the largest
possible volume.
Application Ideas:
A li ti Id
• building structural stability
• minimizing material
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute

16. Mimicking Process
Application Ideas:
A li i Id
• organizational / change
management
• transportation systems
It is believed that social insects have been so successful – they are almost everywhere
It is believed that social insects have been so successful they are almost everywhere
in the ecosphere – because of three characteristics:
• flexibility (the colony can adapt to a changing environment
• robustness (when one or more individuals fail the group can still perform its task
robustness (when one or more individuals fail, the group can still perform its task
• self‐organization (activities are neither centrally controlled nor locally supervised)
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute

17. Mimicking (Eco)System
Forest ecosystems are subject to disturbances
that create gaps in the forest stand. Change
creates new opportunity for growth to
maintain and enhance many ecosystem
maintain and enhance many ecosystem
values. Ecological features of forest stands:
• Size and shape
• Abundance
• Composition
• Spatial / temporal distribution
Application Idea: City Planning

18. Earth’s Operating Conditions
– Earth is in a constant state of dynamic
non-equilibrium
– Earth is water based
– Subject to limits and bounds

19. Credit:
ADAM NIEMAN / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

20. “Each
species is a
i i
masterpiece…”
E.O. Wilson
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute

21. Life’s Principles
Life Life
creates adapts
p
conditions and
conducive evolves
to lif
t life

22. Life’s Principles
using multi-functional design
Life
creates optimizing rather
fitting form to function
than
th maximizing
i i i
conditions
conducive recycling all materials
to life leveraging
interdependence
self organizing
using benign using life-friendly materials
Life manufacturing
adapts
p using water based chemistry
and fostering cooperative relationships
evolves using self assembly

23. Life’s Principles
using multi-functional design
Life
creates optimizing rather fitting form to function
than
th maximizing
i i i
conditions
recycling all materials
conducive
to life

24. Life’s Principles
feedback loops
Life
Locally attuned resourceful and opportunistic
creates
and responsive free energy
conditions
conducive shape rather than material
to life cellular and nested
Resilient
antenna, signal, response
simple, common building blocks
Life Integrates cyclic learns and imitates
adapts
p processes
cross pollination and mutation
and diverse
evolves decentralized and distributed
redundant

25. Life’s Principles
resourceful and opportunistic
Locally attuned
and responsive free energy
shape rather than material
simple, common building blocks
Life
adapts
p
and
evolves

26. Biomimicry &
the Built
Environment
Understanding Ecosystem
Functions

27. Understanding Ecosystem Functions
“When the forest and the city are
then we know we have reached sustainability.”
~Janine Benyus
Provisioning: food, fuel, fresh water, genetic resources, fiber, etc.
Regulating: climate regulation, flood regulation, disease regulation, etc.
Supporting: nutrient cycling, soil formation, photosynthesis, etc.
Cultural: biophilia, educational, spiritual, recreational, etc.

28. The Sustainable Sites Initiative,
The Case of Sustainable Landscapes 2009
Fig. 2-1. The Bounty of Ecosystems

29. The Sustainable Sites Initiative,
Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks Draft 2008
Fig. 2-4. Restoring Ecosystem Services

30. Two Design Approaches
Design to Biology Biology to Design

31. Two Design Approaches
Design to Biology Biology to Design
Evaluate Evaluate Discover
against Life’s Identify the against Life’s natural
Principles real challenge Principles models
Emulate Translate to
to Emulate Abstract
Abstract
natural the design natural design
strategies brief strategies principles
Discover
Discover Identify
natural application
models opportunities
Methodology Created by the Biomimicry Institute

32. Biomimetic Design Process
Biology to Design
Evaluate DISCOVER
against Life’s
Principles natural models
Emulate Abstract
natural design
strategies principles
Identify
application
opportunities
Methodology Created by the Biomimicry Institute

33. Image courtesy of AC Martin Partners, Inc.

34. Existing Site Conditions
Image courtesy of AC Martin Partners, Inc.

35. Existing Site Conditions

36. Existing Site Conditions

37. Biomimetic Design Process
Biology to Design
Evaluate Discover
against Life’s natural
Principles models
Emulate ABSTRACT
natural
strategies design principles
Identify
application
opportunities
Methodology Created by the Biomimicry Institute

38. Floodplain Functions
Water cleansing
W t l i
Water supply &
regulation
Erosion & sediment control
Habitat functions
Waste decomposition
& treatment
Human health &
well‐being
Cultural benefits

39. Historic Conditions

40. Biomimetic Design Process
Biology to Design
Evaluate Discover
against Life’s natural
Principles models
Emulate Abstract
natural design
strategies principles
IDENTIFY
application opportunities
Methodology Created by the Biomimicry Institute

41. Functional Examples
Cheonggyecheon Stream
Seoul, South Korea

42. Functional Examples

43. Biomimetic Design Process
Biology to Design
Evaluate Discover
against Life’s natural
Principles models
EMULATE Abstract
Abstract
design
natural strategies principles
Identify
application
opportunities
Methodology Created by the Biomimicry Institute

44. Conceptual Site Design
Image courtesy of AC Martin Partners, Inc.

45. Conceptual Site Design
Image courtesy of AC Martin Partners, Inc.

46. Conceptual Site Design
Image courtesy of AC Martin Partners, Inc.
I t f M ti P t I

51. Biomimetic Design Process
Biology to Design
EVALUATE Discover
against Life’s natural
Principles models
Emulate
l Abstract
b
natural design
strategies principles
Identify
Id tif
application
opportunities
Methodology Created by the Biomimicry Institute

52. Biomimicry
o cy
Resources Tree of Life Web Project
Images courtesy of the Biomimicry Institute

53. Continue the conversation
info(at)brightworks.net
blog.brightworks.net
www.brightworks.net

54. Brightworks Sustainability Advisors helps our
clients create lasting value by aligning their efforts
with basic principles of ecological social and
ecological,
economic sustainability. Recognized as a leading
provider of end-to-end sustainability services in
the built environment and for organizational
strategy, we have completed more than 90 LEED
certified buildings across the country
country.