Author: Joshua Rubbelke

[Genius of Biome Report]

 

 

[This is a report created by Biomimicry 3.8 and HOK Architects. It is meant to be a guide for future designers who want to design sustainably or using biomimicry. It lists the different biomes, or locations within nature, and ecosystems that have survived in these biomes over time. It does this so designers can learn from these ecosystems and create their own projects using similar tactics that were used by these ecosystems. Examples of key words that one can remember when designing are these: Evolve to Survive, Be Resource Efficient, Adapt to Changing Conditions, Integrate Development with Growth, Be Locally Attuned and Responsive, and Use Life-Friendly Chemistry.]

 

— [Joshua Rubbelke]

 

RESEARCH RESOURCES

 

[” Biomimicry 3.8.” Biomimicry 3.8. http://biomimicry.net (accessed September 16, 2013).]

[A website that has a main focus of educating the people about biomimicry. They even hold competitions for students so that they may understand designing with biomimetic principles. Here is an excerpt from the website explaining biomimicry to another person: “It’s about looking to nature for inspiration for new inventions… It’s learning to live gracefully on this planet by consciously emulating life’s genius. It’s not really technology or biology; it’s the technology of biology.  It’s making a fiber like a spider, or lassoing the sun’s energy like a leaf” (biomimicry.net). ]

 

[“Genius of Biome Report” http://issuu.com/hoknetwork/docs/geniusofbiome (accessed September 16, 2013).]

[This is the link to the Genius of Biome Report compiled by HOK and Biomimicry 3.8. It is a resource for designers wishing to design using biomimicry. ]

 

[http://www.imprintculturelab.com/8-questions/8-questions-with-jamie-dwyer/ (Accessed September 15, 2013).]

[This is an interview with Jamie Dwyer, one of the principle people in Biomimicry 3.8. She explains biomimicry more clearly and how it helps the economy and architectural life.]

[Arcology: Architecture and Ecology]

 

 

 

[Arcology is architecture and ecology combined as one integral process. It was created by Paolo Soleri and is thought to be capable of demonstrating positive response to the many problems of urban civilization, population, pollution, energy depletion, natural resource depletion, food scarcity and quality of life. Arcology tries to reorganize the sprawling urban landscape and create dense, integrated, three-dimensional cities in order to support the everyday activities that sustain human life. Arcology is relevant today because it attempts to solve the human caused issues of urban sprawl, resource depletion, and dependance on other nations. It can be seen as something that is bio-mimetic because it attempts to solve a human problem by resorting to/learning from nature. Some current examples of Arcology are Crystal Island and Masdar City. There was also an ideas Arcology skyscraper competition that was just completed testing the limits of skyscrapers and everyday lifestyles. ]

 

— [Joshua Rubbelke]

 

RESEARCH RESOURCES

 

[Soleri, Paolo. Arcology, the city in the image of man. Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press, 1969.]

[Soleri proposes a dense, integrated three-dimensional urban form that gets rid of urban sprawl because of its wasteful consumption of land, energy resources, and time. Also because of its tendency to isolate people from each other and the community. “Miniaturization creates the Urban Effect, the complex interaction between diverse entities and individuals, which mark healthy systems both in the natural world and in every successful and culturally significant city in history” (Soleri). Soleri relates mankind to nature stating that nature and human evolution have parallel progressions. It is one of the most important books to understand Arcology.]

 

[Yergaliyev, Karim. “World’s Biggest Building Coming to Moscow: Crystal Island | Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building .” Inhabitat. inhabitat.com/tallest-skyscraper-in-the-world-coming-to-moscow/ (accessed September 15, 2013).]

[Article giving a detailed introduction to Norman Foster’s Crystal Island. It explains how the building “breaths” to allow ventilation and cut energy costs. This is a modern day example of an arcology building. The building is currently on hold due to lack of funds.]

 

[Lima, Antonietta Iolanda. Soleri: architecture as human ecology. New York, N.Y.: Monacelli Press, 2003.]

[This book follows the entire career of Paolo Soleri and documents his thoughts on his coined term: arcology. It gives an overview of Arcosanti, Soleri’s arcological city for 5,000 people.]