ARCHI-MORPHOLOGY mor·phol·o·gy [mawr-fol-uh-jee] Noun: the branch of biology dealing with the form and structure of organisms.

Climate-responsiveness in architecture is typically conceived as a technical function enabled by myriad of mechanical and electronic sensing, actuating and regulating devices. In contrast to this superimposition of high-tech equipment on otherwise inert material, nature suggests a fundamentally different no-tech strategy: In many biological systems the responsive capacity is literally ingrained in the material itself. This project employs similar design strategies of physically manipulating a material system that neither requires any kind of mechanical or electronic control, nor the supply of external energy. Here material computes form in feedback with the environment. Biomimicry, which was first coined in Janine Benyus’s book of the same name in 1997, is in fact a concept that is as old as civilization. In observing nature, Archi-Morphology seeks to replicate life to solve problems of water and energy.

MOJAVE: FINDING WATER IN THE DESERT

The Mojave Desert is an ecosystem dictated by extreme changes in climate. This polarity in weather means that organisms within this desert must be able to adapt and thrive in both hot and cold environments. The drastic weather changes in conjunction with lack of precipitation makes the Mojave Desert a formidable biome. The rich biological diversity contained in this environment however, is a testament to the fact that water is abundant if you know where to find it. In the Mojave Desert, urbanized cities like Las Vegas consume a high quantity of water. This high rate of consumption has put a burden on water sources such as The Colorado River and ground water from the Spring Mountains. In studying nature, we have found that life is in a constant process of change in response to environmental forces, making life on earth adaptable and highly resilient. This progress suddenly stops however, when water is taken out of the equation.

Water is the only substance that occurs naturally as a solid, a liquid and a gas . It covers about 70 percent of the earth and is essential to every living organism on the planet. Water is not only a critical element in every biological and bioclimatic process, but is also plays significant role in agriculture, industry, and social typology. Throughout the world, problems concerning water fall into three different categories; Too much water, too little water, and unsanitary water. Using Biomimicry as our template, Archi-Morphology is using assimilating architectural approach with systems found in nature to create solutions. Using organisms exclusively indigenous to the Mojave desert biome, we have found solutions that have a global application.

FORM PROCESS ECOSYSTEM

FORM The Mojave provided our basis for minimum structure, deep principles of design are rooted in nature. Nature tends to build from the bottom up. Reflected in our design, smaller modules are arrayed into increasingly complex shapes. Rather than produce a rough shape and dissect it as we design, we seek to emulate design and form strategies of nature using additive manufacturing.

PROCESS Nature is replete with examples of extraordinary innovation and efficiency. Considering the far mental reach required in making connections between architecture and organisms, our design process has taken on a procedure that is analogous to Natural Selection. Our design process has inadvertently been modified to maximize efficiency, and the same process that has dictated life on earth now dictates design. From the principle of Additive Manufacturing, our design process from the beginning rotated around water and energy efficiency because in the desert these two aspects are synonymous with each other.

ECOSYSTEM The Mojave Desert ecosystem is unique. Harnessing water in an ecosystem that has a meager supply is a challenge. According to Buckminster Fuller, “All life forms are synergetic.” Synergy is the condition in which an examination of the parts or subassemblies of parts gives no hints of the performance of a whole. The systems we have adopted from the Mojave act in cooperation with each other to maximize efficiency.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Archi-Morphology

Collects and stores rain and groundwater.

Pasteurization system generates and circulates potable water in the desert.

Regulate Temperature using water, inert environment, and sustainable energy.

Provides protection from elements.

Provides countercurrent heat exchange and Tensegrity through structure.

The Sonoran Desert Bee has many Biomimetic features. In the case of climate control within a space, the Bee employs a countercurrent heat exchange that regulates internal temperature. Our design uses the same feature. By allowing convective liquid collected by groundwater and rain collection, excess building heat can be distributed through cooler gray water pipes to facilitate heat loss. On each side of the house lies underground reservoirs in to which water is stored. The outer shell, which serves a purpose in itself, is analogous to the geodesic structures created by bees when making their homes. This type of structure as it turns out, is one of one of the most stable types of buildings and is the only structure that increase tensegrity and strength as size increases.

Arid environments are characterized by low precipitation and can therefore only be used as habitats if the vitally necessary water is accessible to the respective organism. To this end, two major challenges must be overcome: (1) Water (in its available form) must be collected, and (2) it must be transported to the place of ingestion. The Mojave Desert ecosystem is unique. Harnessing water in an ecosystem that has a meager supply is a challenge. Archi-Morphology drew inspiration from the Thorny Devil lizard; a reptile that is indigenous to the deserts of Australia and shares a biome similar to the Mojave Desert climate. The ridges and geometry of the Thorny Devils skin allow the lizard to passively collect water and circulate the water throughout its body. In our design we seek to replicate the hygroscopic grooves present on the Thorny Devil in order to creative a structure that can passively collect water Which will then be pasteurized and used as drinking water. Water that isn’t pasteurized Will be used as grey water for the green house.

Water enters a tree through roots by osmosis and any dissolved mineral nutrients travel with it upward through the xylem (using capillary action) and into the leaves. These nutrients feed the tree through the process of leaf photosynthesis. Trees supply leaves with water because of a decrease in hydrostatic (water) pressure in upper, leaf-bearing parts called crowns or canopies. The pressure difference "lifts" the water to the leaves. Ninety percent of tree water is eventually dispersed from leaf stomata, through evaporation, into the atmosphere. That beneficial loss of water from plants is called transpiration. Our design involves replicating the transpiration that occurs in trees. A solar pasteurizer at the top of the structure creates a negative pressure that draws ground water up where it can be distributed in a reservoir while simultaneously sanitizing water for drinking and domestic and greenhouse use.

GROUND WATER

Heat exchange mechanisms are additionally supported through an increase of surface-area-to-volume ratio, which can be accomplished through auxiliary projections. Consider the classic desert example, the jackrabbit’s long ears. The distribution of water to the periphery, in particular throughout the structure’s subsurface, can occur through rain and groundwater collection. Multi-functionality can occur via subsurface lateral appendages that provide support, distribute temperature loads, and collect and distribute water. Primary occupiable spaces can increase year-round thermal comfort by limiting heat generating mechanical systems to connected auxiliary structures. In this manner, cogeneration can provide heat to occupiable spaces in the winter, but can shunt heat to the environment in summer months. The Jackrabbit operates in the same way by pumping blood through its ears.

We created a structure that mimics the desert tortoise in two ways. Like most desert dwellings, the primary living space of our structure is located underground to deter external heat convection during the day and retain heat at night. The outer shell is also similar to that of the Desert Tortoise, with a durable cover that protects what is inside. Since deserts have one of the highest Albedos of any natural environment, the subterranean structure and shell prevent too much light from overheating the space.

The hygroscopic grooves of the Kangaroo Rat’s nasal cavities serve as filters that collect moisture from exhaled air. We are using this system for our design as well. When pasteurizing the water using a solar pasteurizer, pressure builds in the form of water vapor. We release this pressure using a valve at which point the water vapor runs through a passage containing hygroscopic grooves and collects the water from the water vapor, thus conserving a large quantity of water. This system mimics transpiration that occurs in trees as well. Transpiration however, is highly inefficient with only 10% of ground water actually used for the tree and the rest evaporated. Our design actually improves this system by minimizing the amount of water wasted.

Hygroscopic Grooves

Vapor Vent

Systems Design Limitations

Negative Pressure

Water Collection

Pasteurization

Material

Trees carry water up their trunks through their Xylem using negative pressure. This method requires the liquid in the tree to not only be airtight, but also it must be in a meta-stable state. In order to prevent the water from boiling, there must be no air. The replication of the transpiration process may pose a problem since we are using heat generated from a solar pasteurizer to replace the process of cellular respiration that creates the negative pressure in the first place. Since this has never been done before, there are many unknowns.

The hygroscopic grooves that passively collect water in both the Kangaroo Rat and the Thorny Devil Lizard require a capillary system to transport the water throughout the body (or in our case, structure). Our replacement of a capillary system is the use of negative pressure used in conjunction with backup pumps. Both the quantity of water collected and transported are unknown due to the fact that they haven’t been tested yet.

The pasteurization of water is a relatively simple process in which water must be heated up to 161 degrees Fahrenheit to be decontaminated from bacteria. Since the water collected is both groundwater and rain water, their may be many contaminates. The matter of filtering out large particulates still needs to be solved. The method of pasteurization is not fully designed.

In order to maintain the highest rate of efficiency, we plan to use local materials and repurposed items if possible. In order to keep the greenhouse at a reasonable temperature however, we need to use selective glazing windows. In addition, further research must be done to find the best type of hygroscopic grooves to use in order to maximize the amount of water passively collected.

Optimize rather than maximize . Our design strategy is a reciprocal system, one that uses biomimetic solutions to solve problems and improve upon each other.

Leverages Interdependence Each system in our design cycle relies upon the other in order to function correctly. Each system also improves the previous one.

Benign manufacturing Our design seeks to capitalize on natures systems to perform complicated tasks on inert material. Using form and material, we were able to achieve complex systems on inert material.

Resilient We designed our structure to both resist and embrace the elements. Our structure is one of the proportionally strongest as well as discreet in context to the environment.

Integrates Cyclic Processes The design we made creates a continuous rotation of processes that rely upon each other to work.

Locally attuned and responsive In our design we integrate and interact with the environment rather than dismiss it.

VIMEO

https://vimeo.com/55740690

Bryce Taylor – age 18 Freshman at UNLV majoring in Architecture Born in Las Vegas Musician and Artist Experience in home renovation and general construction Rock climber

Karen Luksich – age 64 Freshman at UNLV majoring in Architecture Worked for the Las Vegas Valley Water District Studied photography at Columbia College Chicago Specialist in desert landscape Gardener and Photographer

Nathalia Ellis – age 27 Born in São Paulo, Brazil Bachelor of Architecture from the University of São Paulo Candidate to graduate May 2013 with Master of Architecture from UNLV Interested in Sustainable Architecture

Ryan Castillo – age 18 Freshman at UNLV majoring in Architecture Born in Philippines Lived in Hawaii from 1994 to 2000 Musician Mountain biker and jet skier

Sources • aboutforestry.com • http://sciences.unlv.edu/desertsurvivors/Pages/mojave.htm • Zygote Magazine • Bilstein Journal of Nanotechnology • Sustainablebuilding.org/selectiveglazing • Bentley, P. J. and F. C. Blumer. 1962. Uptake of water by the lizard, Moloch horridus. Nature 194: 699-700. • Pianka, E. R. 1986. Ecology and Natural History of Desert Lizards. Analyses of the Ecological Niche and Community Structure. Princeton University Press,

Princeton, New Jersey. • http://biomimicry.net • http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/geol111/groundwater.htm • http://solarcooking.org/pasteurization/solarwat.htm • Dirty Water In Africa-Purshotom Bodwal • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRlVf3ilwuY • Golden Eagle vs. Jack Rabbit- NationalGeographic • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I6IK1o23k8 • The Thorny Devil – Global Zoo • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGeAZi_JgW0 • Bees – q8phantom • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ityw9fCXcw0 • Under the Milky Way Sky Under the Joshua Tree National Park – hjwlee999 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehft4odqF5Q • The Heat is On, The Desert Tortoise Survival – usgs • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m2H6GHW7Qo • Kangaroo Rat – ChaliceofGawd • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40XVaaZgE5k • Trees are freaking awesome – 1veritasium • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BickMFHAZR0 • Faculty Advisors: Jeff Roberts: Professor and Professional of Architecture and head architect of The Springs Preserve, Cecilia Schafler-Professor and

professional of Landscape Architecture • Desert Tortoise • Sonoran Desert Bee • Pointleaf Manzanita • Kangaroo Rat • Jack Rabbit • Thorny Devil Lizard