Using biological strategies is beneficial for various fields. The building sector accounts for around 40% of CO 2 emissions related to energy use. Publications (Scopus) on the topic of biomimicry using the keywords ‘biomimicry in architecture’ (black) and ‘biomimicry’ (grey), from 1997 to 2022.īiomimicry serves as an inspiration with a significant potential for sustainability, and is particularly relevant for architecture and the construction sector, which are large emitters of greenhouse gases, both during the construction and operative phases of buildings. More detailed bibliometric research comprising keywords related to nature-based design is found in Section 2.2.2. We surveyed this emerging interest for biomimicry in architecture, referred to as BIA in this paper, illustrated in the graph that comprises journal articles, conference proceedings, and books on the topics: ‘biomimicry’ and ‘biomimicry in architecture’.

Since the term was coined in 1997, biomimicry as a scientific field has emerged over the last few decades, as evidenced by the increase in publications on the topic on Scopus, illustrated in Figure 1. Therefore, using nature as a guide can enhance sustainability or even generate a restorative approach. Practitioners and academics have worked to make the move from a linear economy, which depletes natural resources for the benefit of people, to a circular economy. Architecture has evolved in the last 50 years, reprioritising goals and shifting toward collaboration with other disciplines. The idea that guides biomimicry is to take inspiration from nature to help solve human and, or design problems in a more sustainable way. Natural systems are known for their circular resource use, intelligence, self-sustaining and energy-saving qualities. Biomimicry as a field of science is an interdisciplinary approach and has the potential to provide sustainable solutions with the collaboration of biologists, physicists, chemists, engineers, and architects. In 3.8 billion years, nature has created technologies equivalent or superior to those invented by humans, but with sustainable and efficient means. When referring to design inspired from nature, terms such as biomimetics, bio-inspired, and biologically inspired are also used. Benyus in 1997 and is a junction of the Greek words ‘bios’, meaning ‘life’, and ‘mimesis’, meaning imitation. Ultimately, the discussion is an integrative effort at defining the field, and highlights the significance and impact of employing BIA in terms of sustainability and usability, as well as showcasing the opportunities for further research.īiomimicry is a promising emerging research field defined as a solution for design problems inspired by natural models, systems, and elements. To provide the necessary context and avoid confusion regarding the many concepts and terms that refer to nature-based design, biomimicry-related keywords and interpretations of the word biomimicry are first clarified. This study aims to highlight differences and similarities through an extended literature survey and analysis that explores case studies, classification systems, and methodological frameworks related to biomimicry in architecture as a way to contribute to reduce the fragmentation in the field.

There has been increasing interest in biomimicry in architecture (BIA), yet the field has become more fragmented. While several biomimicry-related keywords exist, scholars and practitioners in architecture have given varying interpretations to the term biomimicry depending on the use and goal. This is important in the building sector to evolve towards a sustainable and circular economy and reduce CO 2 emissions in terms of energy-use. For the built environment, using nature as a guide can enhance sustainability or even go beyond that and generate a regenerative approach. Biomimicry, as a field of science, is mainly defined as a solution for design problems inspired by natural models, systems, and elements.

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