A Biomimetic Approach to Water Harvesting Strategies: An Architectural Point of View

Abstract

In the current century, due to global warming, pollution, climate change and the exponential growth of the world population, water resources are consumed at alarming rates. For this reason, sustainable methods of water harvesting have become an important research topic of today. In built environments, which are known to account for a significant share of total water consumption, places the development of alternative solutions for the acquisition and effective use of water to the forefront of the agenda. On the other hand, “nature” offers clues about how plant and animal species manage to use limited water resources with sustainable methods while also providing innovative solutions for “water harvesting”. In this context, this research seeks to answer “Can water harvesting strategies of living organisms that manage to obtain water via sustainable methods be transferred to building design through biomimicry?” In this direction, considering the potentials of biomimicry in architecture, plants and animals that are successful in water harvesting have been researched. In addition, biomimetic designs inspired by these living organisms have been analyzed. As a result of this analysis, it has been concluded that, with the use of biomimetic design techniques effective water harvesting methods can be developed for buildings

Sponge Town: Addressing Water Crisis for Future Urban Development in Malaysia

“…(4) What do you think about rain water, storm water and atmosphere water? (5) What if these waters to be collected by building and treated for consumption? (6) What is your suggestion for the solution of water crisis in Master Planning and Architecture for the future?…”

“…Water droplets descending into these cavities are being rolled towards the mouth of the beetle under the influence of hydrophobic structure and gravitational force. There are two building case studies that is influenced by the Namibia Desert beetle which are Namibia University Hydrological Centre Building and Las Palmas Water Theatre (Aslan and Selçuk [5]).…”

“…The surface covered with a series of vertical evaporation 'blinds' is oriented to look at the sea and sea breeze. The moist air that hit the surface with the wind from the harbour was condensed in these blinds and the water obtained as a result of the system was directed to the channels to be stored (Aslan and Selçuk [5]).…”

The Role of Animal-Aided Design in Sustainable Architecture

“…Today, architectural design approaches have been transformed due to the emergence of various environmental problems such as climate change, population growth, unplanned urbanization, pollution, and depletion of natural resources (Aslan, Selçuk and Avinç, 2022). This has resulted in the development of architectural approaches that are compatible with nature through the adoption of environmentalist techniques in the selection of building materials and construction techniques.…”