Biomimetic Approach for Building Envelope Adaptation in Hot and Dry Regions

Abstract

The term biomimicry comes from the Greek words “bios”, meaning life, and “mimesis”, meaning to imitate. Since the biomimetic approach has resulted in many successful examples over the years, a literature review shows how successfully biomimetic architecture could respond to mitigating climate change by examining the biomimicry approach for building envelope adaptation. To demonstrate the significance of biomimicry in fulfilling an adaptive building envelope, the paper will begin by explaining the biomimicry approach and building envelope adaptation methods. Additionally, it showcases some successful architectural examples that were able to enhance energy efficiency, highlighting how those examples were able to combat climate change through observing their adaptive strategies found in nature and the application of those strategies to buildings to enhance energy efficiency and contribute to resilience and sustainability. A hypothetical framework that follows the biomimetic principles for adaptive building envelope theories will also be proposed. The proposed framework will be applied to an office building in a hot and dry area, inspired by the adaptive strategies of cacti. Finally, to assess the efficiency of the suggested framework in achieving climate change mitigation, the paper will conclude by evaluating the outcomes through software simulation, measuring its potential in maintaining adaptive strategies within the building envelope, and how it affects the building’s overall energy performance.