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GUEST ARTICLE INDUSTRY WATCH

Using Nature to Rethink,

Reorganise Human Settlements

Dr. Mona N. Shah, is an Biomimicry or biomimetics is as deep as it is that inspired the storage of electricity
expert and thought leader extensive in its scope; it is micro, as it is macro powered by the battery (inventions -Voltage
in the field of education in its application. It begins as a philosophy and Dynamo). In both these, biomimetics
was used to invent the devices. Nowadays
and manifests as a creation.
and research. Her work Driving through the streets of busy commercial it is commonplace to include biomimicry
in the built environment districts of a megapolis, I come across names (biomimetics) in architectural and urban
has been considered of towers like Hyperion, Helios, Icarus, and the designs which are nature-inspired designs like
noteworthy in providing like. Earlier, had never cared to peruse what the Burj Khalifa’s, Hymenocallis desert flower
thought leadership to other objects are named after these lofty design, or the famous Lotus Temple in New
the sector. The built mythological Greek characters. Chancing Delhi, shaped like a lotus flower.
upon some literature in my pursuit of all things
environment is vast sustainable, I came across, among other Movement in favour of biomimicry
covering practically the things, a new context of these names. This The proponents of the cities of the future,
whole gamut of human article could be viewed as one more voice propose bringing back the abilities of modern
activities. As Founder to be added to the growing clamour for societies to emulate the way earlier human
and Director of Vayati sustainable habitats. It looks at rediscovering societies borrowed from, and lived with,
Systems and Research, ways in which nature’s settlements could be nature. Needless to mention these societies
woven back into human cities and perhaps
were far more resilient than the ones in
she leads initiatives in trigger the thinking of ‘going back’ to the way which we live today. These are termed as
leadership, education, we had once lived? ‘life- regenerative’ and ‘life- compatible’
employability -based skills What else did I miss in the connection cities. One could thank Janine Benyus and
training and research in between the Greek heroes mentioned above Hoagland, the initial crusaders, for making
projects, infrastructure, real who exist as names of concrete and steel this idea fascinating enough to merit further
estate sector and related towers in our urban midst? Read on to find out. contemplation. Thankfully their collective work
Inventors have always been inspired by
is gaining traction and the world now has
industries. peculiar natural phenomena in nature which scientists, sociologists, designers, engineers,
in their existence served as inspirations to architects, economists, entrepreneurs, and
mimic or imitate. Phenomena, were invariably in some sparse cases public policy leaders
transformed into inventions. 20th-century looking at how to bring about social change
history in particular and a few centuries in favour of biomimicry/biomimetic solutions.
prior, are replete with chronicles of natural The need is for very fresh perspectives on
phenomena being used to devise solutions for regenerating mass systems to make them
human problems. The earliest instances are sustainable, functional and aesthetic within
the Torpedo fish and Leyden Jar experiments the current context of humankind.
Image courtesy
www.gettyimages.in
www.archdaily.com/tag/biomimicry
48 CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES|SEPTEMBER 2022