Learning from Nature via Biomimicry

Do you ever wonder how mother nature works ? Biomimicry is searching for this question. As far as I am concerned, in a sort of way, it imitates the way nature does. Thus we can use these methods in our design world. Speaking of it, it’s used everywhere ; buildings, vehicles, materials etc…

Imagine the cellular tissue. You remember what is look like, however the thing I want you to think about is parametric design.

Parametric design is a process based on algorithmic thinking that enables the expression of parameters and rules that, together, define, encode and clarify the relationship between design intent and design response, wikipedia says. Let’s see the products we get below.

This example that I have mentioned at first, benefits from the advantage of visuality side of biomimicry we can say. Except that, it is possible to see other approaches that are using it in a different way, like learning from termites.

In Harare, Zimbabwe, an office complex, Eastgate Building has an internal climate control system inspired by the structure of termite mounds.

Termites are not successful for creating some of the most elaborate ventilation systems for cooling on the planet. Even in some of hottest places, these termite mounds remain exceptionally cool inside. Using a network of air pockets, the mounds create a natural ventilation system.

By inspired by mounds, the office complex uses %10 less energy than a traditional air-conditioned facility.

At last but not least, I want to take you to Ottoman Empire times. Let’s think of Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi (1609-1640), an inhabitant of Istanbul in the 17th century Ottoman Empire is credited with the first appropriate flight with artificial wings in the history of aviation. At the beginning of his dream, he was curious about how birds use their wings and how they work. He has spent years studying them, documenting his studies with a millions of drawings and calculations. Then, he designed a fly – suit just as wings and with these wings he flew from Galata Tower and crossed the Bosphorus. In addition to that, he is world’s first Turkish scholar who is able to fly.

When the things get stuck or you can’t find a solution for your project’s problems, I suggest you to simplify complex. Focus into basic, focus into nature. How animals act, how their body works and why something is just the way it is, not different ? Be closely acquainted with biomimicry.

What Biomimicry Really Means

Biomimicry is the practice of studying nature’s models, systems, and processes and then drawing inspiration from them to solve human design challenges. It is more than copying shapes from the natural world. At its deepest level it asks how organisms and ecosystems function efficiently with limited resources, and how those strategies can inform architecture, engineering, and materials. The field is often divided into three levels: mimicking a natural form, mimicking a natural process, and mimicking an entire ecosystem. Architecture that reaches the ecosystem level tends to deliver the greatest sustainability benefits because it addresses energy, water, and waste together rather than in isolation.

More Examples in the Built Environment

Beyond the termite inspired Eastgate Building, designers have looked to many organisms for ideas. Building facades have borrowed from the way certain plants open and close to manage sunlight, creating dynamic shading systems that respond to heat. Structural engineers have studied the lightweight efficiency of bird bones and honeycombs to reduce material use while keeping strength. Surfaces inspired by the lotus leaf, which sheds water and dirt, have informed self cleaning coatings. Each of these examples shows how careful observation of nature can lead to designs that perform better and consume fewer resources.

Benefits and Limitations

The main benefit of biomimicry is resource efficiency, since natural systems have been refined over millions of years to do more with less. It can also lead to genuinely original solutions that conventional engineering might overlook. There are limitations, however. Translating a biological strategy into a buildable detail is difficult, because materials and scales differ greatly between living organisms and construction. Some nature inspired ideas also require advanced fabrication or maintenance that adds cost. The most successful projects treat nature as a starting point for principles rather than a literal template to copy.

How to Apply Biomimicry in Your Own Work

Start by clearly defining the problem you want to solve, such as cooling a space, managing rainwater, or reducing structural weight. Then ask how nature handles a similar function and research organisms that thrive under those conditions. Translate the underlying principle, not just the appearance, into a design strategy you can build with available materials. Testing early through models or simulations helps you confirm whether the natural strategy actually improves performance. As the article suggests, when a project feels stuck, simplifying the problem and looking to how nature solves it can open up fresh and practical directions.