Presented by AIA Seattle’s COTE committee
Nature is a brilliant, untapped mentor. Are you among the majority of the design industry in that you’re interested in learning from nature to develop innovative design solutions but aren’t sure where to start? Join us to learn the real steps for how to apply biomimicry to building design.
Although many people are familiar with the term biomimicry, it is often confused with biophilia, bioutilization, and other nature-based approaches. “Biomimicry” is fundamentally about function – understanding biologically how organisms or ecosystems solve their challenges, and then translating those strategies into design language that can be used to design buildings (materials, products, etc.) more sustainably. We’ll look at how local ecosystems provide clues for designing buildings that provide environmental benefits to their sites and share a real project exploration of this approach here in Seattle.
Participants will first be introduced/refreshed to the concept of biomimicry and how it can be applied to building design to help buildings contribute positively to their ecosystems. We will present a biomimicry design tool called the “Seedkit,” an investigation of how mentors from the Pacific Northwest forest (moss, bark, etc) can inform Northwest building design, including innovative ways to think about wall and roof systems (see www.urbangreeprint.org/seedkit). An example of a Seattle design team’s approach to applying biomimicry to mitigate polluted stormwater runoff will also be presented.
Presented by:
Jennifer Barnes, 55-5 Consulting & Urban Greenprint
Alexandra Ramsden, Rushing Sustainability Studio
Rachael Meyer PLA, Weber + Thompson
Speaker Bios and more information
Register for this free event here
RSVP by Wednesday, August 16, close of business.