BIOMIMICRY

Nature has many definitions and can be perceived differently by each individual. Also individuals’ perceptions are triggered by inner intuition. 

Nature controls our lives and rhythms of human body with day and night, summer and winter, autumn and spring. Designers are humans and are themselves nature and part of nature in the natural space (Spirn, 1988).

Humans millions of years ago, back in the Stone Age in their fight for survival was directly stealing from nature. Stealing the animals’ clothes so they could keep warm, it was a way of mimicking rather stealing nature’s functions.

NATURE SURVIVED FOR OVER THREE BILLIONS OF YEARS.

There are a lot of lessons to learn from nature. According to Janine M. Banyus nature can be seen as a model, as a measure and as a mentor. Thus we can get inspired to solve our problems, evaluate our solutions based on standards and learn from natue. Furthermore in her book Biomimicry identifies seven lessons that we can learn from nature: (1) feed ourselves, (2) harness energy, (3) make things, (4) heal ourselves, (5) store what we learn, (6) conduct business, and (7) plan the future (Benyus, 1997). 

                                                          “Nature runs on sunlight,                                                                                                  

                                                 Nature only uses the energy it needs,                                                                                

                                                      Nature fits form to function,                                                                                             

                                                      Nature recycles everything,                                                                                                      

                                                     Nature rewards cooperation,                                                                                                                                 

                                                     Nature banks on diversity,                                                                                                          

                                                 Nature demands local expertise,                                                                                                                         

                                                Nature curbs excesses from within,                                                                                                       

                                                   Nature taps the power of limits”

                                                       Janine M. Benyus

All human activities force nature to act in a way that she wouldn't normally act and we are the first species that have broken nature’s bounds. Human design starts from scratch and last months while for nature, designs taken millions of years of evolution. We might imitate nature but our creations can’t reach nature’s work (Forbes, 2005).

“Nature is the ultimate designer” Schnier et al. (2006)

The word Biomimicry has its origin from Greek bios, life and mimesis, imitation (Benyus, 1998). Many terms have been used by different authors and scientists to describe similar theories. Synonyms to biomimetics are Biomimesis, Biomimicry, Biognosis, Bioinspiration, Biomimetic design, Bioanalogous design and Biologically inspired design.

Self cleaning paints.Lotusan® paint

Lightweighting: Scots pine

One of the most important today's Biomimicry expertise/researcher is Janine Benyus. You can find more information on biomimicry in the following sited: 

http://biomimicry.net/

http://www.asknature.org/

There are a lot more obvious examples of mimicking nature in form and or function. 

E.I. DoBonnie