Biomimicry in architecture is the practice of drawing inspiration from nature’s forms, processes, and systems to design buildings that are efficient, sustainable, and well-adapted to their environments. It offers creative, low-impact solutions to pressing environmental challenges including energy use, water management, and climate resilience.
In this article, we explore how architects are applying biomimicry in real-world projects, explore key benefits and examples, and learn practical ways to integrate nature-inspired design into your own architectural practice.
As climate challenges grow, architects incorporating biomimicry can embrace this approach to design energy-efficient, resilient buildings. By mimicking natural systems and forms, biomimicry helps create harmony between the built environment and ecosystems—essential for a regenerative future in architecture and urban planning.
Many architects world wide are already applying biomimicry (watch this video on Jenny Sabin: Nature Is an Incredible Teacher). And other built environment professionals are coming to the party too (read more about biomimicry in engineering and architecture here). But we need more buy in, more commitment, and more action.
This White Paper, From Sustainability to Regeneration by Jacobs & Biomimicry 3.8, makes it clear that the built environment can have a detrimental impact on natural environments: "The transition from natural, green spaces to urban environments has resulted in the loss of ecosystem functions, services and species.
Today, much of the land in and around cities is degraded; threatening native habitats, the genetic and functional diversity of flora and fauna, local climate regulation, and the quality of air and waterways... Nature and biodiversity loss is putting 44% of global GDP ($31 trillion) in cities at risk of disruption and climate change could wipe out up to 18% of the total economic value of the global economy by 2050."
When the built environment is not designed sustainably, it significantly contributes to climate change through several key environmental impacts:
Clearly, things have to change to create a life-friendly future. So, let's dive into how architects can apply biomimicry. As when building anything, it helps to have a solid foundation. Here are the three levels of biomimicry in architecture.
Credit: Learn Biomimicry
Expert biomimic and thought leader Janine Benyus has identified three levels of biomimicry: Form, process and ecosystem. Here is how they might apply to architecture:
Form-based biomimicry is emulating the shapes, patterns, and physical forms found in nature to inspire more efficient designs. Strong by Form is a great example. This organisation manufactures building materials that mimic trees, and how trees grow strategically to optimise maximum strength with minimal material.
Process-based biomimicry is emulating nature's processes, and the cycles or steps followed in nature to manufacture or reach a goal (for example, how a animals build their nests). Another good example is Blue Planet Cement, which mimics how a coral uses carbon as a building block.
Systems-based biomimicry is about learning the deeper principles of nature to learn how to fit and contribute to our ecosystems (for example, buildings that contribute to the local ecology). A good example is Interface, an organisation that reimagines manufacturing facilities to function like natural ecosystems, aiming to provide environmental benefits akin to those of a forest.
Biomimicry Life’s Principles are key ways to evaluate whether a project is truly meeting the criteria for biomimicry.
Some of these principles that are useful to guide architectural thinking include the following:
Adapt to Changing Conditions
Design buildings that respond to environmental changes—like temperature, sunlight, or wind—through passive cooling/heating, modular spaces that evolve with user need, etc.
Use Life-Friendly Chemistry
Choose non-toxic, biodegradable materials to safeguard human and ecological health. Think cradle-to-cradle certified materials or plant-based alternatives.
Be Resource Efficient (Material & Energy)
Prioritise efficient use of materials and energy through strategies like passive solar design, daylighting, thermal mass, and recycled or locally sourced materials. Minimize construction waste and design for disassembly or reuse at end-of-life.
Integrate Development with Growth
Design buildings and communities that grow and evolve in harmony with their users and surroundings. This will be dependent on each environment, and might include phased development, infrastructure that scales with population etc.
Evolve to Survive
Incorporate feedback loops, post-occupancy evaluations, and performance monitoring to learn from the building’s actual use and improve future designs. Design with durability and resilience in mind—using materials and strategies that can withstand environmental stresses like flooding, heatwaves, or earthquakes through mimicking how nature achieves this.
You can read more in this article: Biomimicry Life's Principles Explained
The future of materials is here. tocco.earth is a world-leading database of more than 5,000 life-friendly materials, and a great place to start. Here are our top five materials for the built environment.
1. Low-carbon cement alternative - Finland-based company Betolar has developed precast concrete products made from industrial by-products, and contain no harmful chemicals.
2. Recycled polymers - Arqlite recycles materials to create polymers for injection moulding and extrusion, for applications such as drainage, road construction and hydroponics in construction.
3. Bio-base paint - These bio-based and nature-based paints and surface coatings from AkzoNobel are chemical-free, and are also used in the automotive industry.
4. Passive temperature regulation - albotherm manufactures glass coatings that reversibly transition from transparent to white for passive temperature regulation.
5. Natural fibre composites - Derived from agricultural waste, Agrona develops natural fibre composites made from agricultural waste for interior use.
You can explore more materials on tocco.earth here.
Here are some of the top examples of biomimicry in architecture.
1. HOK’s Safe Harbor Orphanage, Tahiti
Image: HOK
This orphanage, constructed in response to a devastating earthquake, was inspired by the Caribbean kapok tree. The building's balconies feature a support system that mimics the branching pattern of the tree, and an exterior boundary layer functions like the kapok tree's bark, shielding the building from direct sunlight while allowing for natural ventilation and daylighting.
You can read more about the project here.
2. Esplanade Theatre, Singapore
Image: Visit Singapore
Inspired by the durian fruit, its facade is responsive to the environment that adjusts with the sun. These aluminium sunshades reduce reliance on artificial cooling and lighting, enhancing the building's energy efficiency.
You can read more about the project here.
3. The Hive house, India
Credit: Fabien Charuau via StirWorld
This family home takes its inspiration from various natural models, like the exterior facade inspired by honeycomb, which is also sensor-based to follow the sun, as certain plants do. The walkable green roof also acts as thermal insulation.
You can read more about the project here.
4. Shanghai Natural History Museum, China
Credit: Perkins&Will
Inspired by the nautilus shell, this structure's proportions follow the "Golden Ratio". It's outer surface is also inspired by the cellular structure of plants and animals, maximizing daylight and allowing sunlight into the building.
You can read more about the project here.
5. New Lowell Living Village, Canada
Credit: B+H Architects
This village is inspired by the environment's natural hydrological cycle and built around the existing transitional areas between water and land. It also mimics the pattern of a leaf to maintain water’s pathways for pedestrians.
You can read more about the project here.
You can also see 10 more examples of biomimicry in architecture here.
If you're planning to learn more about applying biomimicry to your next architecture project, here are some helpful tools, resources and next steps to get started.
Closing Thoughts
Applying biomimicry in architecture is one way of creating a more life-friendly planet, and more sustainable architecture solutions. If you're an architect or other built environment professional with a passion for nature-inspired design, you might be interested in taking the next steps to practically apply biomimicry.
So, what's next?
The Biomimicry Practitioner Programme is a 6-month, mentored programme where you can bring your vision, next building, urban project or dream structure to life.
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