The aim of this thesis is to attempt to solve technical and spatial issues in an architectural project by looking at a species of spider, Cyrtphora Citricola. This will be done using desk-based research, reference reading and testing models. The work of architect Frei Otto will also be used as a reference for technical and programmatic solutions in the architectural intervention. The thesis will attempt to answer the question, ‘What aspects of technical and spatial adaptability can be brought into an architectural context by studying spiders and their behavior?’ Spider silk is built up through a protein chain hierarchy, making for a unique structural material. As a species, spiders are particularly adaptable to different living conditions. The specific species Cyrtphora Citricola has a very unique way of building its web which has a tent-shaped formation. It is very adaptable to different sites and living conditions and shares similarities with the tent and netted roof structures designed by Otto. Being a pioneer in the fields of minimal architecture and tension construction, he claims architecture needs to integrate with nature as well as be light and minimal in order to solve the environmental problems we face in modern society. These theories have influenced this thesis and the resulting architectural project proposal. To gain further understanding of tensional structures, experiments using two different methods of model making have been explored. The first uses string and soap film to test the naturally occurring minimal surface of physical models and the second uses a similar method by programming computational software to act like the soap film. The project is summarized in one potential usage of the spider in architecture, an elementary school located in the planned neighborhood Tomtebo Strand, Umeå. The plot is currently all forest, which will be used in the project as a statement of adaptability. As a result of insufficient research surrounding spiders, the project developed into a modern recreation of Otto’s work with tensile construction. The purpose of the architectural project ‘NETWORK’ is to investigate how a large structure can adapt to any location, causing minimal impact. By studying spiders and spider technology and combining the research with the work of Otto; aspects of adaptability, technical function and aesthetical form have been combined to create a project which answers the thesis question.

An experimental study has been conducted to develop a process allowing the creation of biologically accurate aerodynamic test models mimicking the slotted primary feather geometry of the Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis). Preserved examples of both a full Brown Pelican wing and a single primary feather were 3D scanned and digitally reconstructed using a combination of MATLAB and CAD software. The final model was then 3D printed as a collection of smaller components using a LulzBot TAZ 6 printer and Taulman3D T-Glase PET filament. After using various surface finishing techniques to improve the finish of all 3D printed parts, an assembly was designed to mount the model in the low speed wind tunnel at the California Polytechnic State University. Prior to aerodynamic testing, airfoil sections of the pelican wing were generated in CAD and several common airfoil measurements and characteristics were investigated. At a flow velocity of 5 m/s (Re ~1.21 x 105), wind tunnel smoke and laser visualization testing highlighted the vortex generation of multiple primary feathers, as well as large-scale flow deviations in the vicinity of the feathers. A total pressure rake and total pressure probe were used to create detailed plots of the ratio of the local velocity to free-stream velocity (Vx/Vx∞) at two planes downstream of the model, which revealed vortex positioning consistent with that predicted by smoke visualization testing and provided a metric by which to evaluate the relative strength of each vortex. The model creation process and wind tunnel testing results outlined here provide a strong foundation for future investigations into the potential aerodynamic benefits provided by the slotted primary feather geometry employed by the Brown Pelican and other large gliding avian species.

If architects are to create a sustainable world, one in which we are accountable to the needs of all future generations and living creatures, we must recognize that our present form of designing buildings is deeply flawed. Being the number one cause of emission gases, building design needs to be revolutionized to be able to surpass such climatic changes and finally harmonize with nature. To create a sustainable future and solve the global warming crisis, architects need to incorporate nature within design through the process known as biomimicry. Janine Benyus, the author of Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, stressed how nature teaches to solve human problems. After billions of years of research and development within nature, Benyus believes that nature has perfected itself and has the key to human survival. Through biomimicry, architects can find solutions to design problems and apply them to sustainable design. Sustainable design has not reached its peak in uniting both aesthetics and performance within the design industry. Until now, architecture focuses more on human needs and economics, putting aside what is best for the environment thus leaving a conflict between human and nature. This thesis presents an investigation into biomimicry and its architectural applications. It is inspired by organisms within nature. The final design project will be based on the studies of organisms and how these can be incorporated on a building's entire design program including skin, structure, journey and circulation. From these studies , I will synthesize the important components and ideas of these organisms and interpret them into the building's design. The building typology chosen for this project is the museum typology which function as a living organism. The project will be site specific thus designing a museum that adapts to the site's specific surroundings. The goal for this thesis is to discover organisms within nature that can be incorporated and reinterpreted into sustainable architecture. It is also crucial to discover and study the complex systems within nature so that architects can incorporate ideas from it to improve architecture design.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The reliance on fossil fuels needs to be fizzled out from every part of modern society. Construction equipment is one industry in which the transition away from fossil fuels is underway in favor of electric vehicles. The transition to electric vehicles is affecting the entire system of construction sites, including enhanced feasibility and incentive for increased autonomy. This thesis aims at identifying system-level design implications stemming from the electric transition of construction equipment. By using biomimicry and drawing inspiration from nature, the goal is to produce a functioning product that fulfills the requirements created based on the needs of the users. Within this thesis, Design Thinking is used to identify the needs in theconstruction equipment sector which are then used as the input for an iterative process of reverse biomimetics. The resulting concepts are tested and evaluated in several design sprints, the findings from which result in the final solution. Aided by the Design Thinking methodology human-centered approach, the solution is optimized for the users. A total of 25 needs were identified within eight different categories. A total of seven design sprints were conducted with the findings accumulating in a sensor cleaning system for autonomous vehicles inspired by the pendulum-like oscillating motion of mammals shedding precipitation. Biomimicry is identified as a promising tool to aid in the creative process by introducing novel perspectives and approaches to the problem space. The evolving development and use of autonomous constructionequipment results in the need for clear and unhindered sensor systems which the solution developed in this thesis provides. / Användandet av förbränningsmotorer behöver forslas ut från varje del av det moderna samhället. Konstruktionsindustrin är i starten av övergången till elektriska maskiner. Det är en markant övergång som påverkar varje del av byggarbetsplatsen, i synnerhet motivet till att använda autonoma maskiner som lösning på den mindre energidensitet eldrivna anläggningsmaskiner innebär. Den här uppsatsen undersöker vilka design implikationer som berörs från den elektriska övergången på ett systemperspektiv kring använd- nignen av anläggningsmaskiner, och hur de ska lösas. Som stöd för att lösa de implikationerna används biomikry. Genom att använda biomikry sökes den lösningen som bäst uppfyller de design implika- tionerna som uppstått och behoven som utforskatts. Inom den här uppsattsen används Design Thinking for att identifiera de behoven som uppstått inom industrin. De fynden blir basen för an- vändandet av en specifik del av biomimikry, nämnligen motsatt biomi- tik. De koncepten som utvecklas testas och evalueras i flera så kallade Design sprints, där fynden från flera Design sprints utformar slut- lösningen. Med stöd från människofokuset av Design Thinking blir slutlösningen direkt optimerad för användaren. Totalt 25 behov identifierades inom åtta kategorier. Totalt sju Design sprints utfördes där de induviduella resultaten utformade en slutlös- ning i form av ett sensortvättsystem för autonoma fordon, vilket tagit inspiration från den svängande rörelsen som används av däggdjur för att få bort vatten. Lösningen innebär ohindrad funcktunalitet av sen- sorerna på autonoma anläggningsmaskiner oberoende av väder eller klimat. Biomimikry har identifierats som ett lovande verktyg för att öka den kreativa processen genom att introducera nytänkande perspektiv där problemet adresseras på ett annorlunda sätt. Det utökade behovet för autonoma anläggningsmaskiner har resulterat i ett ohindrade sensor rengöringssystem vilket är specifikt det den här uppsatsen behandlar.

Many plant species, including Barrel Cacti, have developed long-term evolutionary adaptable traits to survive in extreme climates. The most important trait of cacti in extreme hot dry climates is to reduce water evaporation and increase water storage. The exterior skin of a cactus plays an important role in preventing water evaporation through heat transmission. On the other hand, there have been many passive design strategies applied to the space planning and building design of architecture in hot dry climates. The goal of these passive design strategies is to regulate the penetration of heat into building spaces while creating a strong ventilation system to help bring cool air inside the building. In this paper, adaptations of the Barrel Cactus' exterior skin, along with architectural passive design strategies for hot dry climates (in this caseYazd, Iran) will be discussed and integrated with one another through the concept of Biomimicry. The goal is to design an exterior building skin that is attuned to the environmental conditions of a hot dry climate, based on the successful applicable behaviors demonstrated in the Barrel Cactus. Key architectural features such as natural ventilation and daylight will be informed by the evolutionary cacti adaptations and passive architectural strategies in the design of the building skin in order to increase the possibility of consistent comfort for users of an office building.

Plastics are known to cause plenty of problems for the environment such as sewerage water,birds, marine life and even human health issues. Normally the cause for such small particles tobe such a huge problem lies in the adversity of collecting it after the use phase. Other occurringproblems are health related, where such small-sizes particles are getting in the eyes or eveninhaled by the workers handling the material. An example of such material is glitter. Tarkett AB is a Swedish company located in Ronneby, Sweden, and deals withmanufacturing of flooring mats created with homogeneous blends of different plastic materialsresulting in interesting designs for customers. One of their products uses glitter flakes in themix and causes the company a few problems, the biggest of which is the glitter getting stuckinside the blender thus risking the glitter particles getting into the next blend that isn’t supposedto have any glitter flakes in it. The company’s current solution is mixing waste material in theblender to clean the blender from most of the stuck glitter. The purpose of this work is to investigate why the glitter flakes stick to surfaces in generalthus getting an idea of why it could be sticking inside the blender. This knowledge is later usedto ideate different solutions for the company and select one winning concept that will beprototyped and possibly tested through conduction of experiments. There are a few reasons asto why this problem is worthwhile solving, firstly and most importantly is the operator’s healthwhere the glitter that is being used can be inhaled by the operators thus leading to potentialhealth problems. Secondly the company will save time by not needing to clean around andinside the blending machines to get them ready for the next mix. Thirdly, solving this problemwill lead to environmental sustainability where no energy or water will be used during thecleaning process both around and inside the blending machine. Method used to achieve this will be the design thinking process with plenty of differenttools. Starting off by understanding the problem further through need finding and tech watchingto investigate the problem further and the current available solutions for it. A literature reviewwill be done on the material to get a better idea of the root causes for the problem. Ideageneration will be a big part based on previous tools used to generate many different ideas tolater be filtered using concept selection methods. Through this a concept will be developedwhich can potentially lead to a prototype that’ll be tested at the company. The main finding from this thesis is a concept derived from biomimicry which is atransparent slime and oil mixture to prevent glitter spread during the handling stage at theproduction line. Both variants prevent glitter particles from spreading, which results inminimized glitter spread thus minimizing the cleaning requirements. Experiments show that theoil-glitter variant had a positive effect of improved distribution of glitter flakes in the finalproduct. The experiments were discussed with a design expert at Tarkett to evaluate the twopresented variations and assess the final product.

No description available.