Biomimetic Architecture: The Eastern View

Abstract

Biomimetics has become a popular architectural design approach. However, it is not a new subject. Since antiquity, mankind has been imitating nature when building shelter. With the historic development of varying civilisations, their biomimetic buildings show the different features. In this thesis biomimetrics refers to all the relevant natural approaches including imitating forms, structures, and functions and analogy and symbolism. This is distinct from its current definition, which emphasises the imitation of organism’s form, structure and function. This thesis mainly focuses on the two developmental directions of two civilisations: West and China. In Chapter 1, western biomimetic architecture is analysed. It is into seven periods: the antiquity, the classical times, the medieval times, the Renaissance, the 19th century, Art Nouveau and the Modernism era until today. Through analysing the varying biomimetic buildings or design methods that came out of these different periods and the influence of the philosophies, the technologies, the scientific methods and the religions of the day on these buildings or design methods, I clearly show their developmental sequence and bionic features. Chapter 2 mainly discusses the theoretical supports of Chinese ancient biomimetic architecture. Chinese architecture is the only one that comes down in a continuous line. It developed gradually and did not suffer any relatively major mutations or interruptions, unlike the branches on the Mediterranean coast, and in Persia and India. However, from the Neoteric period to modern times, Chinese architecture, and especially biomimetic architecture, has been influenced by western design thought. As a result it displays characteristics similar to those of western Modernism. Hence, ancient Chinese biomimetic architecture is the focus of this thesis. Taoism and the theories of Chinese Geomancy are discussed and acknowledged to be an important basis of ancient ii culture. They deeply influence ancient Chinese biomimetic architecture. In Chapter 3, through analysing the five cases, the discussion highlights the features of Chinese ancient biomimetic architecture. In the Chapter 4, comparisons and contrasts of the features of biomimetic architecture in the Western and China clearly reveal their similarities and the differences. However, the aim is not to decide which one is better. Both have advantages and disadvantages. In this period of globalisation, merging advantages is the main trend.