Biomimicry Design

William McDonough’s Green Building Highrise

This building demonstrates biomimicry in resemblance to a tree. The building produces oxygen, changes with the seasons, produces ene

rgy and distills water. The reason I like this example of ‘green’ design is because it looks at every detail of a building (something that ordinarily wastes a lot of energy and destroys the environment around it) as an opportunity to work with the environment. McDonough describes how the building will have pockets for birds to nest in and soil and plants on the roof to absorb sunlight among many other innovations.

Neville Mars’ Solar Forest

In this design, Mars creates leaf-shaped photovoltaic panels on tree like structures that are used to shield cars and people from the sun while also using the solar panels to generate energy that can be used to power electric cars. The panels will tilt and rotate with the sun as it moves.

Peter Richardson’s Solar Lily pads

Richardson designed large lily pad like structures that can be moved and dismantled and float along the Glasglow River Clyde. The structures will use solar energy to generate electricity along a grid that travels along the river front. The uniqueness of this design comes from its location and use of space. Because each structure is movable, it will not disrupt the regular river traffic. The location being on a river maximizes the use of previously unused space.