"Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature's time-tested patterns and strategies. The goal is to create products, processes, and policies—new ways of living—that are well-adapted to life on earth over the long haul." The Biomimicry Institute studies collectively nature’s design lessons which inspire us human designers to build and design sustainably.

 

For my Engs 44 sustainable design project at Dartmouth College, my team adapts and honors the practice of biomimicry to design a residence house for hot and dry climate that has characteristic diurnal temperature extremes. We studied closely the strategies that local flora and fauna use to successfully adapt to the harsh conditions, utilized and transferred the nature's methods as feasible special functions of the house. The goal is to efficiently and actively harness maximal energy and water from the environment while allowing the house to use minimal energy but still ensure comfortable living.

 

Treating nature as the teacher, biomimicry is a sustainable design practice and should be considered in all creative fields.