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Sustainable Architecture - TRENDS

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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What is ‘Green’Building?
According to “Simvan der Ryn”, Green architecture is “any form of design that
minimizes environmentally destructive impacts by integrating itself with living
processes”.

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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Green Building Features:

A Green building is one, which

incorporates several Green features, such
as: -
•􀂄Effective use of existing landscapes
•􀂄Use of energy efficient and Eco-friendly
equipment
•􀂄Use of recycled and Environmental
friendly Building materials
•􀂄Quality indoor air quality for human
safety and comfort
•􀂄Efficient use of water
•􀂄Use of Non-Toxic & recycled materials
•􀂄Use of renewable energy
•􀂄Effective controls and building
management system
School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai
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Green design for Sustainable future

Sustainable design is implemented on a fundamental level by:

􀂄reducing energy input to products and processes

􀂄reducing the material content of products
􀂄reducing the toxic content of products and processes
􀂄Designing for long life, second use, recyclables and biodegradability.

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

AD9022 ENERGY EFFICIENT ARCHITECTURE

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

AD9022 ENERGY EFFICIENT ARCHITECTURE

BIOMIMICRY

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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It has three major goals

1. Nature as Model:
Biomimicry is a new science that studies nature's models and then
solve human problems, e.g., a solar cell inspired by a leaf.

2. Nature as Mentor:
Biomimicry uses an ecological standard to judge the "rightness" of our
innovations. After 3.8 billion years of evolution, nature has learned:
What works? What is appropriate? What lasts?

3. Nature as Measure:
Biomimicry is a new way of viewing and valuing nature. It introduces an
era based not on what we can extract from the natural world, but on what
we can learn from it.

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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It can be applied in the field of

•electronics,
•informatics,
•medicine,
•biology,
•chemistry,
physics,
•mathematics,
•and many others.

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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• A Bird with its wings has the

ability to fly

• The invention of air craft modelled after birds

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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• Leaves, specifically, the "photosynthetic reaction

centers" in green plants and photosynthesizing bacteria

•Tiny solar cells-"Pentads" are solar batteries that

mimic the leaf's reaction center.

•Molecular in size, they could one day be used to split water

into clean-burning hydrogen gas and oxygen.

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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Nature and application of Lotus leaf surfaces

Professor Wilhelm Barthlott is a

biologist from the university of Bonn,
created radically new self-cleaning
surfaces.

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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AERODYNAMICS

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This 2005 MERC model boasts a top speed of 118 miles per hour, while
still maintaining an impressive 70 miles per gallon of spent gasoline.

This remarkable mechanical triumph is thanks to the tropical boxfish, a

resident of warm ocean waters whose figure inspired the vehicle’s design.
The car’s streamlined profile provides a highly efficient aerodynamic
performance, while its rectangular frame aids in stabilizing the vehicular
structure.
School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai
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•These researchers have used biomimicry of the

cockroach, one of nature’s most successful species, to
design and build sprawl-legged robots that can move
very quickly (up to five body-lengths per second.

• In addition, these robots are very good at manoeuvring

in changing terrain, and can continue forward motion
when encountering hip-height obstacles or uphill and
downhill slopes of up to 24 degrees .

•These types of small, fast robots could potentially be

used for military reconnaissance, bomb defusion and de-
mining expeditions.

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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WhalePower, a Canadian-based
company, has experimented with wind
turbines that use what has been dubbed
the ‘tubercle design.’

This model is borrowed from the tail

fins of whales and dolphins, which
feature a bumpy, irregular surface.
Compared to the other modern turbine
implements, researchers have
discovered that the tubercle design This equates to almost twice the
increases lift, reduces drag and delays power generated at the same
the stall – the abrupt loss of momentum speed by other, more
– of generated wind. conventional models.

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

AD9022 ENERGY EFFICIENT ARCHITECTURE

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

AD9022 ENERGY EFFICIENT ARCHITECTURE

BIOMIMICRY AND ARCHITECTURE

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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9 principles of nature, which should be applied to design

• Nature runs on sunlight

• Nature uses only the energy it needs
• Nature fits form to function
• Nature recycles everything
• Nature rewards cooperation
• Nature banks on diversity
• Nature demands local expertise
• Nature curbs excess from within
• Nature taps the power of limits

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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Buildings on principles of Biomimicry,

The architecture of the
Eastgate closely mimics this
extraordinary natural feat. Air
currents enter the building,
where they are either warmed
or cooled by the structural
mass, depending on the
outside temperature. Then,
the air is evenly distributed
throughout the building,
using a similar system of
vents that open and close in
timed intervals. Finally, the
air exits through a system of
Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe chimneys.

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

 AD9022 ENERGY EFFICIENT ARCHITECTURE

Buildings on principles of Biomimicry,

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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Buildings on principles of Biomimicry,

This building is designed
by HOK. The building aims
not only to mimic the
appearance of natural
elements, but also mimic
certain systems. The
designers were inspired by
the Barrel cactus. The
cactus has ridges which
self-shade to protect it from
harsh sunlight. This system
is translated architecturally
into the building which
reduces the amount of
artificial cooling required
for the building. 

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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AIM & OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

•Biomimicry can be applied to

buildings in order to:
•Make materials stronger, self-
assembling, and self-healing.

•forces for basic building functions.

•Allow them to produce resources

by integrating natural systems.

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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BIOMIMICRY

‘Leaning how to deal with long-term maintenance of our planet’

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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Hannover Principles of sustainability which can

be modified to design
1.Insist on rights of humanity and nature to coexist.
2.Recognize interdependence.
3.Respect relationships between spirit and matter.
4.Accept responsibility for the consequences of design.
5.Create safe objects of long-term value.
6.Eliminate the concept of waste.
7.Rely on natural energy flows.
8.Understand the limitations of design.
9.Seek constant improvement by the sharing of knowledge

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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Sustainable ecological design must:

• Adhere to a Site-Specific Context.

• Utilize By-products as Inputs.
• Exploit Self-Organization.
• Be Adaptable.
• Include Redundancy and Diversity.
• Work within a Renewable Budget.
• Optimize Coordination and Minimize Force.

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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• DRIVERS
• Climate Change + Levies
• Energy Costs
• Politics + Social Pressure
• Legislation
• Tax incentives
• Client ambitions
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• New perceptions of Value
• Benchmarking
• Planning Restrictions

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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• BARRIERS
• (Perceived?) Cost
• Ignorance
• Architectural Education
• Disconnect between developers and occupiers
• Aesthetic issues
• “Greenwash”

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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References
• Biomimicry, Innovation Inspired by Nature -
Janine M. Benyus 1997 William Morrow and Co. New York
• The Sand Dollar and the Slide Rule-Drawing Blueprints
from Nature ,
Delta Willis. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. Reading
Massachusetts
• State of the World
Lester Brown et al, W.W. Norton & Company, New York
• LEED Reference Guide version 2.1
US Green Building Council 1999
• The Sacred Balance- Rediscovering our Place in Nature
David Suzuki, Prometheus Books, Amherst, New York 1998

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai

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Any Questions?

School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University Campus, Chennai