7 Stunning Biomimicry Art and Design Works

Nature is everything that exists on earth and is part of human life. In addition, nature can also inspire humans, including in works of art and design. One of them, in the design field, is known as biomimicry. Biomimicry design was created due to an innovative approach derived from nature as the main inspiration for solving problems—examples of the application of biomimicry, such as some of the following works of art and building design.

Apartment Shaped Like a Snake in Mexico

Javier Senosiain Aguilar's El Nido de Quetzalcóatl is a 5000-square-meter apartment complex consisting of 10 units. The origin of naming comes from the Nest of Quetzalcóatl, which means a god with a serpent form in the Aztec religion. From the outside, this building is green and curved like a snake body coiled in a green forest area. Some circular portal windows serve as lighting and add a scale-like texture. When visitors enter the apartment, they will feel like they are in a giant snake's belly. With a concept inspired by nature, architects want to apply an "architectural philosophy that seeks harmony between the human habitat and the surrounding nature".

Snake-like Apartment Building, photo by Anna Dave

The Display of Algae-Infused Tile at the London Design Festival 

To tackle the problem of water sources contaminated with harmful substances in various regions, the Bio-Integrated Design Lab at the Bartlett School of Architecture has created an algae-coated modular tile system that can filter toxic chemical dyes and heavy metals from water. The source of inspiration for this work is algae because it is a microorganism that can break down environmental pollutants. In addition, the shape of these tiles is also a transformation of the white vein shape of the green leaf structure. When several of these tiles are assembled, it produces a unique and lifelike visual appearance.

The display of algae-infused tile, photo by Andy Stagg

Biomimicry Pavilions Based on Sea Urchin and Beetle Wings

Two biomimicry pavilion works from the University of Stuttgart inspired by the shape of sea urchins and beetle wings were exhibited at the Bundesgartenschau horticultural show in Germany. The spacious wooden pavilion has a shape similar to a sea urchin, while the fiber composite pavilion takes the structure from the wings of a beetle. By creating a unique shape in the middle of the green garden, there is no production waste or pieces of material. This is because the production process is assisted by two robots developed by the University of Stuttgart. The robot places a fibrous filament between two rotating scaffolding. The translucent fibers on the beetle's wing-like pavilion are glass composites, while the black ones are carbon fiber, and the entire pavilion is covered with an additional plastic membrane. 

Biomimicry pavilion design shaped like beetle wings

Biomimicry pavilion design shaped like a sea urchin

A Leaf-like Cooking School Design Made of Bamboo Construction in Bali, Indonesia

A cooking school at this Sayan resort is in a neighborhood with the natural scenery of Bali. The roof of this building is inspired by the shape of the leaves designed by IBUKU, an architectural firm that focuses on the natural materials of bamboo. At the same time, the construction and support poles are made of bamboo. Due to its location near a river with gurgling water, the scheme aims to connect visitors with "Bali's cultural and spiritual hearts", placing students in a familiar atmosphere amid a symphony of forest nature. Furthermore, the biomimicry design designed by the architect brings humans to interact with nature and brings a peaceful atmosphere.

The building is inspired by the shape of a leaf with bamboo construction, photo by Pete Seaward

Building with Color Changing Facade Like a Chameleon

A Chameleon is an animal with the ability to mimicry, which can change the color of the skin according to the environment in which it stands. The physical characteristics of camouflage in chameleons can be applied to the facades of buildings. For example, Dubai-based WWF Architects designed a multi-purpose office building with a chameleon-inspired biomimicry concept. The façade of the building consists of a hexagonal shape with capricious colored LED lighting and integrated temperature regulation. So when the building receives excessive radiation, each structure component is hermetically sealed. Similarly, the structure will open when the temperature is low or the lighting is poor.

The facade of an office building that takes the concept of chameleon camouflage, photo by WWF Architects

Pollinator Park to Increase Awareness about Declining Rates of Biodiversity

In recent years, biodiversity has become a particular concern because the extinction of some pollinator species threatens it. One of Vincent Callebaut's works, Pollinator Park, was created for the European Commission to improve ecosystem protection to stop the decline of pollinator species such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The concept of biomimicry which refers to the shape of buildings such as blooming flowers is transformed into a "pollinator garden". The design of the interior of this park is very spectacular, like being in a fairyland with a dynamic and winding construction shape. Inside, it is filled with various plants and flower species that invite animals to perch and breed.

The facade of Pollinator Park, image by Vincent Callebaut

Amazing application of biomimicry in Pollinator Park, image by Vincent Callebaut

Biomimicry Design at Shanghai Westbund Amaze Visitors

Archi-Union Architecture designed venue B of the Shanghai Westbund World Artificial Intelligence Conference to realize green architecture combined with Artificial Intelligence, and present systematic solutions for a building. In the middle of the building is a green space that connects the space and the center of human interaction. The combination of white and wood in the design makes visitors relax and want to interact. The pavilion's structure is inspired by a lightweight construction principle found in nature: the fibrous structure of the front wing shell of a flying beetle known as elytra. In comparison, the canopy consists of hexagonal components with a fairly wide span and is aesthetically shaped.

A green garden connects the spaces in Venue B, photo by Fangfang Tian

Hexagonal roof with biomimicry concept, photo by Fangfang Tian