Biomimicry for Regenerative Built Environments: Mapping Design Strategies for Producing Ecosystem Services

Abstract

Built environment professionals must solve urgent and complex problems related to mitigating and adapting to climate change and biodiversity loss. Cities require redesign and retrofit so they can become complex systems that create rather than diminish ecological and societal health. One way to do this is to strategically design buildings and cities to generate and provide ecosystem services. This is an aspect of biomimicry, where whole ecosystems and their functions are emulated, in order to positively shift the ecological performance of buildings and urban settings. A small number of methodologies and frameworks for ecosystem services design have been proposed, but their use is not wide spread. A key barrier is the lack of translational work between ecology concepts and practical examples of ecosystem services design for a built environment context. In response, this paper presents research underpinning the creation of a qualitative relational diagram in an online interactive format that relates ecosystem services concepts to design strategies, concepts, technologies, and case studies in a format for use by built environment professionals. The paper concludes that buildings and whole cities should be expected to become active contributors to socio-ecological systems because, as the diagram shows, many strategies and technologies to enable this already exist.

Improving Community Health and Wellbeing Through Multi-Functional Green Infrastructure in Cities Undergoing Densification

“…Much research has reported on the link between green and blue infrastructure, ecosystems health and ecosystem services (De Vries et al, 2016;Elmqvist et al, 2013;Grellier et al, 2017;Pedersen Zari and Hecht, 2020;Rapport, Costanza and McMichael, 1998). Research finds that opportunity lies in re-instating habitats and species that benefit urban biodiversity as well as contributing to human wellbeing (Tilman, Isbell and Cowles, 2014).…”

“…In this way, urban restoration through green and blue infrastructure solutions contributes to ecological, social, and cultural health in various holistic and interconnected ways (Hes and du Plessis, 2014;Mang and Reed, 2012;Pedersen Zari and Hecht, 2020). It does this by safeguarding the ecological and biological aspects of our unique native flora and fauna, while still filling our urban landscapes with life and meaningful experiences.…”

Findings of Case-Study Analysis: System-Level Biomimicry in Built-Environment Design

“…Moving forward, it may be that the biomimicry field and associated networks develop unique pathways to explore each of these three opportunity types. For example, opportunities with potential for immediate implementation may be consolidated into a centralised database as suggested (leveraging, for example, the work undertaken by the Biomimicry Institute with 'Ask Nature' [29])-work that has now been initiated by Pedersen Zari and Hecht, through the creation of an online interactive database that highlights design interventions to support ecosystem system services [30]. Conceptual but feasible opportunities could be promoted for early piloting, and theoretical but possible opportunities earmarked for further academic and interdisciplinary investigation.…”

Biomimetic Urban and Architectural Design: Illustrating and Leveraging Relationships between Ecosystem Services

“…If designers and policy makers are to effectively use ecosystem service models and concepts in urban settings, they must understand how these ecosystem services are related [ 14 , 15 ]. This is so potential synergies between ecosystem services can be leveraged, but also so that potential trade-off relationships between certain ecosystem services can be avoided or addressed [ 16 ]. To date, little research has examined relationships between ecosystem services for an urban design context (but see: [ 1 , 16 , 17 ]).…”

“…This is so potential synergies between ecosystem services can be leveraged, but also so that potential trade-off relationships between certain ecosystem services can be avoided or addressed [ 16 ]. To date, little research has examined relationships between ecosystem services for an urban design context (but see: [ 1 , 16 , 17 ]). This research seeks to address this gap in knowledge.…”