Biological NanoArchitecture: Architecture in the Age of Biomaterials

Abstract:

Biological NanoArchitecture is to build natural spaces that contribute to the biological-system and integrated with the surrounding environment, and as healthy as the womb for an embryo to grow. It should have a positive effect on the health of its occupants while enriching the ecosystem of the planet by consuming zero resources and producing zero waste. In this paper, I will try to introduce the myriad potentials of advanced technologies in the 21st century to architects and builders. Advances in Biotechnology and Nanotechnology will change the way we think, design and construct our buildings, and transform our inorganic buildings into synthetic organic structures that can behave like living species and merge with the biological cycle of the planet. This change of thinking can be achieved through adopting bionic systems in our buildings and mimicking nature the way it builds life forms. After 3.8 million years of evolution, it’s nature that does it best to adapt for survival, and the more our buildings look and function like natural systems, the more we are likely to find solutions to our contemporary global problems like overpopulation and climate change. This requires that we should look at nature as a source of learning and inspiration rather than a source of materials and energy.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 671-674)
• Pages: 2174-2179
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.671-674.2174
• Online since: March 2013
• Authors: Maged Elsamny
• Keywords: Biological Architecture, Biomaterial, Biotechnology, Biotechnology Application, Green Building, Green Building Material (GBM), Nanotechnology

References

[1] Spiller, Neil and Armstrong, Rachel. Protocell Architecture. Architectural Design. 2011, Vol. 210.

[2] Biomimcry, Institute of. What is Biomimcry? Institute of Biomimcry. [Cited: April 10, 2011. ] http: /www. biomimicryinstitute. org/about-us/what-is-biomimicry. html.

[3] Benyus, Janine B. Biomimicry: Innovations Inspired by Nature. HarperCollins, (2002).

[4] Bar-Cohen, Yoseph. Biomimetics: biologically inspired technologies. CRC/Taylor & Francis, (2006).

[5] The Living Building: Biomimicry in Architecture, Integrating Technology with Nature. Berkebile, Bob and McLennan, Jason. p.8.

[6] Systems Architecture: Model for Sustainability and the Built Environment using Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information Technology, and Cognitive Science with Living Technology. Armstrong, Rachel. 2010, Artificial Life.

DOI: 10.1162/artl.2009.16.1.16101

[7] Gazit, Ehud. Plenty of Room for Biology at the Bottom: An Introduction to Bionanotechnology. Imperial College Press, (2007).

[8] Contributors, Wikipedia. Green Chemistry. Wikipedia. [Cited: October 24, 2012. ] http: /en. wikipedia. org/w/index. php?title=Green_chemistry&oldid=505357188.

[9] Iwamoto, Lisa. Protocell Architecture. Architecture Design. 2011, pp.113-121.

[10] Zoontjens, Ralph. Biological Architecture. Create Your Cosmos. 2011. [Cited: October 23, 2012. ] http: /createyourcosmos. blogspot. com/2011/09/biological-architecture. html.