What is Biomimicry?
Many people have likely pondered this question at some point, and if not, it’s certainly worth asking: Who created this world?
It is fascinating how a certain precise distance from the Sun can create the most ideal and habitable conditions on a planet (Earth) to support the development of such a vast and complex web of creations. From the mesmerising transformation of chameleons and octopuses as they shift their colours like living canvases, to the astonishing prowess of dolphins that can peer into the depths of another being and visualise a foetus nestled within its mother, the sheer variety of these extraordinary phenomena is truly mind-baffling. The architect of these designs, if in existence, is a mysterious and superior force, who has crafted a tapestry of life that transcends human imagination.
Interestingly, humans have long drawn inspiration from nature’s astounding creations, incorporating its principles into architectural design. Architects frequently look to nature for innovative solutions to challenges, or develop and explore designs influenced by the intricate systems and phenomena observed in the natural environment. This approach, known as biomimicry, involves studying nature’s strategies and applying them to solve human design challenges. By emulating the efficiency, adaptability, and ingenuity found in the natural world, architects and designers create structures that not only solve problems but also harmonise with the environment. Biomimicry allows us to leverage millions of years of evolutionary innovation in our architectural pursuits.
Many architects have drawn inspiration from nature, each adopting a distinct approach. Architect Michael Pawlyn, a notable architect in this field, has always focused on sustainability, using natural systems as functional models in his designs. In his famous Eden Project, he incorporated geodesic biomes inspired by the efficiency of natural forms like pollen grains, emphasising minimal material use for maximum strength. His work has consistently explored how nature’s solutions, like passive cooling and self-repair mechanisms, can create sustainable architectural innovations.
In contrast, Architect Santiago Calatrava has been inspired primarily by nature’s aesthetics. His projects such as the L’Hemisférico and Turning Torso, have drawn from organic shapes like the human eye and the human spine. Calatrava has focused on capturing the fluidity and dynamic movement found in nature, using these forms to create visually striking structures. Unlike Pawlyn, his designs have emphasised nature’s elegance rather than its functional systems.
Therefore, biomimicry can be seen as an umbrella concept, encompassing a range of interpretations of how designers draw inspiration from nature. Each designer may understand and apply the principles of biomimicry in unique ways, reflecting their individual philosophies and aspirations in architecture.
An intriguing and distinctive example of biomimicry is the BIQ House, recognized as the world’s first algae-powered building, making it a noteworthy case in the study of biomimicry as well as sustainable architecture.
BIQ House
Located in Hamburg, Germany, the Bio Intelligent Quotient (BIQ) House is a four-storeyed residential building featuring fifteen units. Designed by ARUP Architects in collaboration with Strategic Science Consultants (SSC, Germany) and Austria-based Splitterwerk Architects, this structure serves as a groundbreaking example of biomimicry in architecture. Officially opened in 2013, the BIQ House is celebrated as the world’s first algae-powered building. The design was specifically created to test a bio-adaptive façade that utilises microalgae to both shade the building and generate energy.
The structure was part of a broader European movement aimed at creating carbon-neutral, self-sustaining buildings that utilise renewable energy sources. Funded by the German government, the project was meant to explore adaptive and smart construction technologies. Algae was chosen because it had significant potential as a renewable energy source, and algae bioreactors were considered promising for biofuel production. The BIQ House was made to demonstrate the potential for integrating living organisms into architectural design to promote energy production and environmental sustainability.
Design and Concept
The building’s form is a straightforward cuboid with a total built-up area of approximately 1,350 sq.m. Its design is intentionally functional, prioritising performance over elaborate aesthetics. The north-east and north-west facades feature basic fenestration, while the south-east and south-west sides are clad in bio-adaptive panels, or bioreactors, that house algae cultivations. These bioreactors, which are seamlessly integrated into the façade and form its outer shell, are strategically positioned to harness the abundant sunlight available on these sun-facing sides of the building, using it to fuel the algae’s photosynthesis and generate bio-energy. The minimalist approach reinforces the building’s emphasis on practicality and environmental innovation.
These bioreactors which form the ‘bio-skin’, are panels of glass, each measuring 2.5 m by 0.7 m, specifically designed for micro-algae cultivation. Between the two inner layers of each panel is an 18 mm wide cavity that holds up to 24 litres (or 6 gallons) of water, where algae grow and circulate. The panels are designed to rotate along their vertical axis, allowing them to track the sun’s position throughout the day, maximising energy capture. When fully closed, these panels form a seamless outer shell that acts as a thermal buffer, improving the building’s energy efficiency. For safety and insulation, both sides of the bioreactors are clad in laminated safety glass. Compressed air is periodically injected at the base of each bioreactor, ensuring optimal algae growth and preventing overaccumulation. In total, 129 bioreactors are installed across these facades, covering a total area of 20 sq.m, producing an annual net energy output of approximately 4,500 kWh, which surpasses the average household’s yearly energy consumption of 3,500 kWh.
In addition to generating electricity, the excess heat produced by the algae-filled panels is harnessed and used to improve the building’s overall energy efficiency. This heat is transferred to a heat exchanger and either used directly for domestic hot water and space heating or stored in saline water tanks beneath the building for later use. By repurposing the heat generated within the bioreactors, the BIQ House maximises energy savings and further demonstrates how living systems can contribute to sustainable architectural solutions.
Working
- The BIQ House’s bioreactors, mounted on the south-facing sides of the building, are designed to function with minimal human intervention or maintenance. Each bioreactor contains roughly 6 gallons of water held between laminated safety glass panels.
- A complex circulatory system sustains the algae, pumping water, phosphorus, and nitrogen through the bioreactors. Carbon dioxide, the algae’s main food source, is supplied from the exhaust of a ground-floor generator. In future applications, these bioreactors could potentially absorb CO2 emissions from nearby buildings. Compressed air jets prevent algae overgrowth, while small beads scrub the glass to keep the algae from adhering.
- As algae reproduce, they release heat, which can cause the water in the bioreactors to reach temperatures of up to 100°F on sunny days. This heated water passes through a heat exchanger, where it warms a secondary supply of water that circulates through pipes embedded in the building’s floors, heating the interiors or preheating water for domestic use. Excess hot water is stored in eight 260-foot-deep boreholes beneath the building, and the algae-generated heat is sufficient to provide year-round heating for four apartments.
- The algae are harvested weekly and transported to a nearby university for processing into methane and hydrogen. While the algae could theoretically be burned for electricity, this method may prove costly and inefficient for carbon emission reduction.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The BIQ House exemplifies innovative architecture through its pioneering use of algae bioreactors, marking it as the world’s first algae-powered building. Its bioreactors are integrated into the façades to provide energy generation, thermal insulation, and shading, contributing significantly to the building’s energy efficiency. The system can heat several apartments year-round and captures excess heat for domestic hot water, showcasing a seamless integration of living organisms into architectural design. Additionally, the minimal maintenance requirements of the bioreactors highlight the potential for sustainable and adaptive building practices that could transform urban architecture.
However, the BIQ House faces several challenges that may hinder its broader application. The complexity of the algae systems and high initial installation costs could limit scalability, making it less viable for widespread adoption. Moreover, while the algae produce energy, the efficiency of converting biomass into usable fuel and the costs associated with harvesting and processing could reduce the overall energy savings. Additionally, the system’s performance is heavily reliant on geographical location and climate, which may not yield the same results in less favourable conditions.
Additionally, the building’s design may not appeal to everyone. The emphasis on functionality over form, coupled with the industrial look of the bioreactors, gives the building a rather utilitarian appearance, which some may find visually unlikable. This lack of architectural refinement could further limit its acceptance in projects where aesthetics plays a more significant role in the design brief.
The BIQ House stands as a bold, trailblazing testament to the power of biomimicry in architecture- where innovation meets the living pulse of nature. This algae-clad structure does more than just redefine how buildings can look; it reimagines what they can be. It dares to fuse the organic world with the built environment, transforming the humble façade into a bio-adaptive skin that generates energy, provides shade, and captures heat in a stunning, symbiotic dance of form and function.
Despite the significant financial costs involved in its conception, the structure signals a crucial leap forward in biomimetic design. It’s not just a building- it’s a living, breathing organism, harnessing the power of algae to respond to environmental challenges like energy consumption, climate control, and sustainability. In doing so, the BIQ House embodies the very essence of biomimicry, where architecture ceases to be a static object and becomes an evolving system that thrives, adapts, and sustains itself just as the natural world does.
References:
- Bio intelligent quotient (BIQ) house, Germany (no date) CECR. Available at: https://info.cecr.in/bio-intelligent-quotient-biq-house-germany/ (Accessed: 13 October 2024).
- Arup (2013) BIQ House by Arup: Apartment blocks, Architonic. Available at: https://www.architonic.com/en/project/arup-biq-house/5101636 (Accessed: 13 October 2024).
- BIQ (no date) RSS. Available at: https://www.internationale-bauausstellung-hamburg.de/en/projects/the-building-exhibition-within-the-building-exhibition/smart-material-houses/biq/projekt/biq.html (Accessed: 13 October 2024).
- Perez, D. (2020) The first algae-powered building presents a unique renewable energy solution, Engineering.com. Available at: https://www.engineering.com/the-first-algae-powered-building-presents-unique-renewable-energy-solution/ (Accessed: 13 October 2024).
- BIQ House+ SolarLeaf – the use of microalgae (no date) BIQ House, Hamburg. Available at: https://pocacito.eu/sites/default/files/BIQhouse_Hamburg.pdf (Accessed: 13 October 2024).
- BIQ House (2015) YouTube. Available at: https://youtu.be/t3OddaOgo5Q?si=WRLhQXt0hdEMjzTP (Accessed: 13 October 2024).
