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GUEST ARTICLE Janine Benyus maintains that we could learn from natural systems neighbourhood rejuvenation pilots that subsequently lead to
INDUSTRY WATCH

and ‘adapt, communicate, cooperate, self- organise, and build
whole urban renewal programmes, with the help of communities
participating in the reinvention. Adapting biomimicry or
effective networks’ in order to be resilient. Human communities
biomimetics to human habitat systems can be introduced at a
and societies not able to adapt to nature have ended up either
project, or neighbourhood at a time. From building houses to
migrating or becoming extinct. Beginning with design and
technology institutions coupled with an engaged public discourse
planning entire transit networks (applying the Ant Theory for route
to steer public policy, it will be possible to alter human habitation
Inspiration is everywhere! in slime molds, or inside the human
for the better. Through the use of systems thinking processes to
emulate nature, there would be a fair chance for humankind not planning), we could reimagine urban lives completely.
body. Nature has the majority of the answers. As long as there
to commit hara kiri on itself. This process would figuratively entail are inventive and problem -solving minds coming together, aided
putting entire natural habitats inside our cities, to enable cities to by advanced digital systems to capture and transmit intelligence,
become resilient. there is hope for humanity.
Biomimicry or biomimetics is as deep as it is extensive in its scope,
Asian and African action -based imperatives it is micro, as it is macro in its application.
Of even greater urgency is getting it right in Asian and fast The only question is will there be the gargantuan resolve to make
urbanizing African cities. To enable this, citizen involvement with it happen?
city planners, academic and technical institutions, technocrats,
and youth is the only way forward. A suggested approach could References
be pilot biomimetic innovation is introduced at the neighbourhood 1. Jennifer Levine (2016). Why redwoods are one of the great
level, multiplied and replicated over the entire city, through wonders of the world. Published September 07, 2016. http://
concurrent building permit interventions. crosstalk.cell.com/blog/why-redwoods-are-one-of-the-
The need would be to look at a development zone with a great-wonders-of-the-world
‘connected, symbiotic lens from the top, while planning the 2. Yeang and Wai (2018). Biomimicry- A new design to building
sectors and neighbourhood. Biomimetic design and technology support system. https://www.slideshare.net/djbbox94/ 19-21 SEP 2022
innovation can be mandatory in the planning of greenfield biomimicry-giant-redwood-prototype THE INDIAN TRADE SHOW
and brownfield township projects using development control 3. Matthew Palmer (2018). How Biomimicry Could Change The FOR CONSTRUCTION, INFRA
rules and regulations. This way the local climatic conditions, Way We Build Our Cities.https://www.talesbytrees.com/how- AND MINING MACHINERY
vernacular building materials, topographical attributes, etc biomimicry-could-change-the-way-we-build-our-cities/
would be considered and built into the project plan. One 4. Social Innovation: How would Nature Do It? https://bio-sis.
could adopt a systems approach for neighbourhoods to adopt net/social-innovation-how-would-nature-do-it/
vernacular layouts, construction materials, renewable tech, waste 5. Knippers J., Nickel K., Speck T., (2016) Biomimetic research for
management at higher performance thresholds. architecture and building reconstruction. Biological Design
To make this a reality design and technology schools have to and Integrative Structures. Springer, ISBN (ebook) 978-3-319-
shape and prepare human talent that can produce biomimicking 46374-2.
designs for the built environment. 6. Oliver Scheffer (2016). From Biomimicry to Ecomimicry:
Reconnecting Cities- and Ourselves- to Earth’s Balances.
Urban planning and project level examples https://www.thenatureofcities.com/2016/11/30/from-
Few examples that use biomimicry are Masdar City in the Gulf, biomimicry-to-ecomimicry-reconnecting-cities-and-
Lavasa Township in India, and the long- term Singapore Green ourselves-to-earths-balances/
Plan which aims at making Singapore a ‘City in a Garden’. At 7. Dissertation Rodney S. Hanley (2015). Biomimicry
a project level, biomimicry has been applied in the design of and sustainable communities: the urban challenge.
Zimbabwe’s East Gate Centre building. The design imitates the University of Cambridge. https://www.researchgate.net/
massive termite mounds, borrowing their passive architecture publication/296707279 _ Biomimicry _ and _ Sustainable _
principles to stay cool. Termite mounds can reach up to a height Communities _ The _ Urban _ Challenge
of 30 feet. Inside the mounds an intricate system of ventilation 8. Linda Poon (2016). Researchers studying the potential of
prevents the interiors from overheating. The building material to organic materials such as seashells say future cities may
build these massive mounds is the humble earth, scraped over emulate the ultimate designer—nature. Bloomberg City
thousands of years of termite activity. Lab https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-06/
biomimicry-how-nature-inspires-the-cities-of-our-future
Daunting but doable 9. Óscar Jiménez Salvador (2014). Biomimicry and city design.
Have we forgotten, or have we stopped learning from the 3.8 Architecture _ MPS; Ravensbourne; Woodbury University.
billion years of tacit, evolved intelligence existing in nature? Is it https://architecturemps.com/wp content/uploads/2013/09/
time we unlearn the prevalent unsustainable ways and relearn mc _ london _ jimc3a9nez _ salvador _ oscar1.pdf
from the natural systems that ancient communities adopted? Can
we take the effort to apply higher level intelligence to achieve For more details contact:
contemporary scale? Email: vayati@vayatisystems.com; vayatisystems@gmail.com
Beginning with greenfield and brownfield projects, several Website: www.vayatisystems.com

50 CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES|SEPTEMBER 2022