Biology and the built environment

Biomimicry has the potential to change the enivironmental standards of the industry

Middle East // A unique collaboration between a global design consultancy and an eco-warrior is poised to expand mainstream applications of bio-inspired architectural designs into the GCC.

The recent alliance between the Canadian firm HOK and the biologically innovative organisation, Biomimicry Guild, is to integrate nature’s innovations into the planning and design of buildings, communities and cities around the world.

Biomimicry is a science that studies nature’s best ideas and imitates those designs and processes to solve human problems. According to Dayna Baumeister, co-founder of the Biomimicry Guild, “Buildings account for about 50% of total energy use, and our greatest collective impact will come from applying biomimicry to the planning and design of buildings and communities at every scale, in every region.”

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Through its global reach and extensive portfolio in the Middle East, HOK is positioned to expand the awareness and application of biomimicry within the built environment, advancing its own long-standing commitment to sustainable design and innovation.

HOK’s collaboration with Biomimicry Guild is particularly timely in the UAE, given the creation of sustainability assessment tool Estidama in Abu Dhabi and the legal framework of Mandatory Progression in Dubai. Moreover, several Middle Eastern countries have created long-term plans for sustainable cities, which extend well into the 21st century.

“We believe biomimicry will not only help us significantly reduce the environmental impact of our projects, but also has the potential to help us define a whole new sustainable standard for our profession,” said Mary Ann Lazarus, Director of Sustainable Design for HOK Canada.

HOK and the Biomimicry Guild are currently working together to integrate biomimicry into the Lavasa Hill Station community, which is under development near Pune, India. Further developments within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are promised in 2009 but remain in the planning stages.