Slide  1:  Why  did  I  choose  to  study  biomimicry,  with  a  concentration  in  migration  

paths,  as  my  thesis?    There  are  a  number  of  reasons  why.    Biomimicry,  as  the  

preliminary  focus,  is  the  concern  for  the  environment.    As  designers,  it  is  up  

to  us  to  minimize  the  impact  of  the  building  industry.    The  study  of  

biomimicry  reveals  how  one  can  use  biology  in  combination  with  

architecture  to  reduce  production  waste,  increase  technological  

advancements,  and  create  more  sustainable  design  for  future  generations.    

My  thesis  concentrates  on  a  specific  type  of  biomimicry;  the  study  of  

migration.    I  am  proposing  to  dive  into  the  realm  of  migration  and  develop  a  

design  that  possesses  a  strong  interrelation  between  form,  function  and  

construction.  

 Slide  2:  

This  quote  is  appropriate  because  she  further  elaborates  on  the  underlying  

idea  of  my  thesis.    To  me,  her  approach  to  relate  nature's  principles  with  

architecture  is  an  abstract  concept  of  life  and  the  built  environment.      

 Slide  3:  

This  quote  looks  closer  into  natural  occurrences.    Designing  with  a  mindset  

of  biomimics  means  potential  revolutionary  ways  of  strategizing,  storing  

potential  energy,  and  replenishing  the  environment.    Janine  explains  her  

theory  with  laboratory  tests  and  in  the  field,  with  researchers  whom  are  at  

“the  top  as  their  class”.    Some  examples  include  analyzing  electrons  circling  

around  a  leaf  cell,  and  how  that  converts  sunlight  into  fuel.    Or,  by  studying  

prairies  as  models  for  low-­‐maintenance  agriculture.  

 Slide  4-­‐6:  

Foster  and  Partners  used  the  flight  and  the  feathers  of  a  falcon  for  inspiration  

while  designing  this  museum.    Each  “feather”  is  constructed  out  of  

lightweight  steel,  allowing  the  tallest  to  reach  125  meters.    In  addition  to  

reimaging  the  skyline,  the  feathers  contain  gallery  spaces  where  visitors  can  

explore  history  of  the  city.    The  goal  of  design  was  to  combine  highly  efficient  

architecture  with  contemporary  form.  

 Slide  7-­‐9:  

The  Council  House  2  Building  in  Melbourne,  Australia  illustrates  the  use  of  

biomimicry  on  a  behavioral  level.    In  other  words,  it  is  not  the  organism  

being  mimicked,  but  its  behavior.    The  design  was  created  with  close  

attention  to  passive  ventilation  and  temperature  regulation.      At  DesignInc,  

designers  observed  termite  mounds,  to  study  their  thermally  stable  interior  

environment.    Similar  to  certain  termite  species,  the  use  of  aquifers  as  

cooling  mechanisms  was  implemented.  

 Slide  10-­‐11:  

For  both  of  my  created  images,  I  focused  heavily  on  facades  that  illustrated  a  

biomimic  attitude  and  literal  paths  of  migration.    The  first  shown  image  is  

comprised  of  5  separate  images-­‐  three  buildings,  a  lotus  flower,  and  the  

migratory  path  of  a  sparrow  species.    The  lotus  flower  is  significant  because  

of  its  unique  pattern  and  leaf  detail.    If  one  were  to  relate  the  flower  to  each  

of  the  shown  buildings,  a  relationship  could  be  made.    In  addition,  the  

abstract  paths  of  migration  (top  right)  are  used  as  a  connecting  theme  

throughout  the  image.    There  are  many  focal  points  with  this  representation,  

and  all  of  equal  importance.    That  is  the  idea  of  biomimicry  in  design.    Not  to  

have  a  main  design  feature  that  draws  the  viewer’s  attention,  but  to  have  an  

entire  project  be  in  unison  while  capturing  it.  

Like  previously  stated,  biomimic  facades  and  migration  paths  influence  the  

second  image  as  well.    Although  it  is  harder  to  see,  there  are  another  three  

projects  intertwining  with  one  another,  with  the  abstract  path  stitching  them  

together.    I  made  this  image  seem  more  chaotic,  in  attempt  to  captivate  the  

eccentric  feel  many  get  when  thinking  of  large  masses  of  animals  migrating.    

The  path  used  mimics  the  paths  of  butterflies.  

 Slide  12-­‐13:       Annotated  Bibliography.