Developing Nature's Innovations

Biomimicry: A termite mound inspires eco-friendly ventilation in Zimbabwe.
Termites “make nests that soar like skyscrapers” (101). The impressive feature of these structures, besides their scale in relation to the size of their insect creators, is the expert system of ventilation. As Tuan explains, “Termites’ nests contain not only elaborate ventilated living quarters for themselves but also fungus gardens for their form of food production” (101). Architects have a lot to learn from termite mounds – and they have, as the field of biomimicry has begun to expand.

Biomimicry is essentially the planned design by humans of existing natural processes. By studying behaviors of other life forms, architects and designers can address problems in our built environment through a better understanding of nature. Architects have studied African termite mounds to develop ventilation systems that use less energy. The Eastgate Centre in Zimbabwe, completed in the mid-90’s, is the country’s largest office and shopping complex and has no central heating or cooling. Instead, the building stays regulated through a series of vents that draw in or expel air depending on the indoor climate, a direct recreation of the termite’s arduous task of opening and closing gaps in their mounds. Because they saved $3.5 million in ventilation costs, the owners of Eastgate Centre can charge their tenants 20% less rent than neighboring buildings.

The Porcullis House
The Eastgate Centre in turn inspired London's Portcullis House, completed in 2001 to provide offices for the Members of Parliament. Located directly across the street from Big Ben, the building uses the “chimney effect” of ventilation quite literally. Unlike the Eastgate Centre, however, Portcullis House is one of the most expensive office buildings in the world, with offices running at more than 1 million pounds per Member of Parliament.

Biomimicry is, in a sense, evidence of Tuan’s assertion that “architects, with the help of technology, continue to enlarge the range of human spatial consciousness” by “remaking” old forms on an entirely new scale (116). As these developments unfold, improved systems of ventilation could in turn affect our perception of “indoor” and “outdoor” space in the conventional sense that Tuan describes (107). Termites are not the only inspiration for green design – there are plenty of other examples listed at the Biomimicry Institute.