On July 6 the opening of the exhibition of architectural projects and models “Be Bionic! Experimental Bionic Architecture” took place in the National Technical Museum “Prof.eng. Dimitrie Leonida”. The exhibition is the result of a decades cooperation between School of Architecture of the Alcalá University from Spain and the “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urban Planning, with the support of the the National Technical Museum “Prof.eng. Dimitrie Leonida” and the Order of Architects of Romania – Bucharest Filial. The exhibition illustrates in preview conclusions of some experimental studies, to be published in extenso in the volume “Architecture Inspired by Nature. Experimenting Bionics” (editors Rosa Cervera, Codina Dușoiu, Tana Lascu), to be issued this year by Springer Publishing House New York. The projects are grouped in eight basic categories of natural principles, applicable in design:
VERTICAL STRUCTURES – the capacity of realizing extremely tall structures with light elements, reinforced by using mathematical rules for cohesion
MORPHOLOGY OF NATURE (BIOINSPIRED FORMS) – the study of the geometry of natural forms and their principles in functionning
FLUID TOPOLOGY – application of the mathematical concept of topology, referring to the capacity of geometric form to keep its properties, separately from the deformations to which it has been subject
FRACTAL GEOMETRY – geometric representation of the dynamic capacity of growth in nature, by producing identical enthities, at different scales
COMPOSITION WITH MODULES – interpretation of the module as basic unity of spatial composition and as instrument of efficientization and ordination
RECYCLING (A TOOL OF NATURE ADAPTED TO DESIGN) – nature has by definition the capacity of recycling, never producing garbage, a concept that can definitely be applied in architectural construction
BIONIC PERCEPTION OF LIGHT – the study of light perception by man and other living beings can become a principle in designing adaptable structures with high adaptability to the environment and spaces in harmony with human being
LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURES – tests prove that extremely light structures, inspired in natural morphology, using the air as the main construction material, are, surprisingly much more resistant than the compact ones (concrete/ stone)
The projects and studies illustrating these categories are realized partly in the Cervera Arquitectos architecture office from Spain. The other part belongs to the students of the School of Architecture of the Alcalá University from Spain and the “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urban Planning. The experimental studies were produced during 10 editions of international seminaries of bionics (2009-2022), as well as in the frame of some disciplines taught in the two institutions (Shape Study 2nd year, Basis of Design 1st and 2nd year).
In the opening of the exhibition, the architect and Professor Maria Rosa Cervera Sardá, pioneer in the study of architectural bionics and the promoter of this type of research, presented an extraordinary lecture, which was extremely useful for explaining the principles illustrated in the exhibition. The event was honored by the presence of professors and internationally known architects invited to be members in the juries of the diploma projects of IMUAU (Session July 2023).
Text by: Codina Dușoiu
Photo credits: Ana-Crisanta Mocanu
The careful, profound approach to the laws of nature in the gesture of architectural design proves more and more its valency and potential, in the context of the present world, in which sustainable development passed from the stage of recommendation to the one of necessity.
A beautiful collaboration in the field of bionic research between the School of Architecture of the University of Alcala (Spain) and the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism from Bucharest is incarnated in the exhibition “Be Bionic! Experimental Bionic Architecture”, sheltered in the National Museum of Technique Dimitrie Leonida from Bucharest in July-August 2023. The three institutions are partners in the presentation of several architectural projects (and models) inspired by the natural laws. The projects are organized in eight categories: vertical structures, lightweight structures, compositions with modules, compositions with fractals, fluid compositions inspired in geometric topology, compositions with recycled materials, structures defined by light and bioinspired forms.
The exhibition presents in the same time executed architectural projects (realized by the studio Cervera Arquitectos from Spain), as well as graphic studies of bionic structures and projects realized by the students of the School of Architecture of the University of Alcala (Spain) and the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism from Bucharest during 10 editions of international seminaries of bionics, as well as within some disciplines taught in the two institutions.
The opening of the exhibition will be on July 6, at 18 o`clock, at the National Museum of Technique Dimitrie Leonida, followed by an extraordinary lecture presented by arch. Rosa Cervera, from the Alcala de Henares University in Spain. The event is opened to all architects, professors and students! We are looking forward to welcome you all in the exhibition!
