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Concept Biomimetic
by Dennis L. Dollens and Ignasi Pérez Arnal
19 June 2002
http://www.architectureweek.com/2002/0619/tools_1-1.html
Presented By:
Architect : K A R E E M A F I F I
INTRODUCTION
Plants as concept generators for biomimetic lightweight
structures
with variable stiffness and selfrepair
Mechanisms
Keywords: bionics, biomimetics, selfrepair,
pneumatic structures, Tensairity
Plants possess many structural and functional properties that have a high potential to serve as
concept generators for the
production of biomimetic technical materials and structures.
The primary goal is conceptually describing and
modeling the structure and function of interior pressurized
linings in hollow plant organs and the selfrepair
Characteristics
This can be realized by
(1) physical models transferring the structural features of plants into technical structures,
(2) theoretical modeling with computer programs for finite elements or other
numerical modeling methods
(3) the insights from basic biological research and modeling processes will be transferred into
industrial products with variable stiffness and selfrepair mechanisms.
Plants serve as generators of biological concepts for technical structures with variable
stiffness. Their structure
is characterized by a thin outer ring of strengthening
Tissue The stability of these stems depends
significantly on the internal pressure
the outer ring of strengthening tissue is connected
via wedge-shaped
elements with an inner ring of
strengthening tissue forming a mechanically resistant sandwich structure.
Structures with selfrepair
Mechanism
The ability to heal fissures and injuries is characteristic,
and an essential feature, of living organisms. It
can even be considered a basic requirement for survival
in natural environments. In technical materials and
structures, however, selfrepair
is apart from a few examples
almost entirely absent. A central aim of our
research is to analyze fast healing processes in plants
quantitatively and to transfer the insights into biomimetic
self repairing
technical materials.
Concept
By looking at biological and botanical life for
ideas that can be exported to architecture
branching, membranes, photosynthesis, leaf
phyllotaxis, aesthetics, etc. an agenda of
design concepts can be proposed that
simulates desirable properties found in nature
for deployment in building. Material scientists
are looking to a process called biomimetic
investigation where researchers look to
natural forms of life and organic elements
shells, fish, bacteria, plants, animals, spiders,
etc. for properties such as hardness,
lightness, strength, softness, stickiness, etc.,
to extract for new materials and new ways of
manufacturing.
Spiral Bridge
Dennis Dollens
with Ignasi Pérez Arnal , Barcelona
Digital-Botanic Architecture by Dennis Dollens
Spiral Bridge
Dennis Dollens
with Ignasi Pérez Arnal , Barcelona
Aim of work
How to integrate new, digitally generated designs into
environmentally sensitive sites with appropriate (and
often technological materials) ?
Design
More specifically, the master plan for a community
designed by Pérez Arnal’s architectural practice in
Barcelona, called for the bridging of a small, tree-lined
ravine and stream—a beautiful greenbelt bisecting the
French site. Housing is located on one side of the
stream, a clubhouse and swimming pool on the other.
Our Spiral Bridge links the two and is the larger of two
footbridges for the community. It is intended to function
as a semi-transparent design structure carefully
embedded in the site with little or no affect on the
existing trees.
Digital-Botanic Architecture by Dennis Dollens
Spiral Bridge
Dennis Dollens
with Ignasi Pérez Arnal , Barcelona
Project description
The bridge’s three intersecting, differently scaled,
spirals are derived from two “visual biomimetic”
observations stemming from:
1) the biologically produced glass strands of the
euplectella sponge grow in quadric lattices around a
cylindrical-like sectional form creating a skeletal mesh
that is further interwoven with grown spirals (giving us
a clue to how nature could fashion spiraling forms over
linear elements)
2) the helicopter-like fall/flight of the winged seed pod
that invisibly inscribes a spiral in flight along a curving
flight path.
3) The Spiral Bridge is in the final phases of design. It is 20 meters long and 4 meters at its
height. The spirals were generated on a modified catenary curve determined by physically
hanging a rope from one side of the site to the other then photometrically digitizing the
resulting curve.
Digital-Botanic Architecture by Dennis Dollens
Spiral Bridge
Dennis Dollens
with Ignasi Pérez Arnal , Barcelona
The Spiral Bridge is in the final phases of design.
Digital-Botanic Architecture by Dennis Dollens
Digitally-Growing Structure, Space, Surface
Dennis Dollens—BioMimetic Architecture
Digital-Botanic Architecture by Dennis Dollens
Digitally-Growing Structure, Space, Surface
Dennis Dollens—BioMimetic Architecture
One Project, Three Steps
In order to manage the potential
scale of such a project I have
outlined a process that uses
three building elements that can
each be considered in physical
and theoretical terms
structure, volumetric space,
skin(membrane).
and From these three basic
architectural elements he has
experimented in order to begin a
series of design “growths” that
could each be used in different
ways and at different scales.
Digital-Botanic Architecture by Dennis Dollens
Digitally-Growing Structure, Space, Surface
Dennis Dollens—BioMimetic Architecture
1- Growing Structure (branches)
A branching structure was begun as a root
system and as it progressed it became
apparent that it would function better as
branches so he inverted the file and removed
two for the four initial branches. With a basic
tree he began to experiment with different
growth parameters available like phototropism,
gravitropism, number of faces, etc.and used
these variables until a digital growth was
realized that branched upward, exhibited
prismatic faces (loosely like Gothic tracery),
and was highly asymmetrical within an
apparent symmetry. his intention was to create
not only a column that could be used in various
ways but to also create a structural armature
that could be used without the tree-trunk as a
central, structural armature (illustrated
supporting floors that initially were grown from
the branches).
Digital-Botanic Architecture by Dennis Dollens
Digitally-Growing Structure, Space, Surface
Dennis Dollens—BioMimetic Architecture
2. Growing Space (seed pods)
Having used growth parameters to create the
“Gothic” profile within a tree for the column, I
realized that other types of more geometric,
more spatial manipulations were possible so
iterated, nested, and distorted platonic solids
became my focus in an attempt to grow crystallike grouped spaces. And to support such a
growth in a geometric armature, in this case
what look like spider legs. As the renderings
and the model demonstrate, this process
produces a massed-system of interconnecting
geometries that with further articulation could
be seen as a building.
Digital-Botanic Architecture by Dennis Dollens
Digitally-Growing Structure, Space, Surface
Dennis Dollens—BioMimetic Architecture
3. Growing Surface (leaves as monocoques)
The third experiment, after the development of pod-spaces and
the tree column, was to grow a leaf that could be articulated or
multiplied for a canopy or roof segment; additionally it could join
the tree as an object within a grown design lexicon. The initial
impulse for this came from an intention to collaborate with a
Barcelona-based architect on a competition entry for a civic
project in Pontecagnano, I literally grew a leafed plant of no
particular genus. The idea was that a very large, light-weight
canopy could be built like an airplane wing, a monocoque, with
integral skin and structure; and that the individual leaf-like
canopy could then be a repeated module in an irregular truss
construction or could use the grown column to support
individual units.
advanced production methods using new plastics, resins,
metals, or composites a related design surprise was emerging
from the initial renderings. From some vantage points the
canopy complex looked like the wings of a bird in flight .; yet
from several other perspectives the elevation looked like the
ruffled botanic leaves of a plant. One view was rhythmic even
with asymmetrical scale changes.
Digital-Botanic Architecture by Dennis Dollens
Digitally-Growing Structure, Space, Surface
Dennis Dollens—BioMimetic Architecture
Conclusion
Biomimetic Synthesis— Currently being
designed is a root system where individual
roots generate splines which in turn are used to
generate walls. Above, a root cluster
determining intersecting and connected spaces
as an experimente in structure, space, and
surface
Digital-Botanic Architecture by Dennis Dollens