The purpose of this thesis is to explore the potential for integrating biomimetic thinking into the design and implementation of photovoltaic energy systems in a way that promotes ecological health, economic feasibility, and equal access to cleaner energy. Photovoltaic energy production is among the most promising renewable energy sources, however, current conventional photovoltaic systems exhibit a number of shortcomings. Steering innovation toward socio-technical systems that are integrated with ecological systems will help support human needs without inhibiting larger ecological function. This investigation began with the construction of a conceptual biomimetic lens from a foundation of literature related to biomimicry in the built environment. Next, the underlying elements, interconnections and functions of both the ecological systems involved in photosynthesis and socio-technical systems related to photovoltaic energy production were defined and examined. The biomimetic lens was then applied to each system to envision biomimetic approaches to address shortcomings of current conventional photovoltaic systems. The suggested approaches aim to address shortcomings in the design, manufacture, and implementation of photovoltaic systems in ways that mimic key principles found in biology and ecology. Since the success of ecological systems is embedded in the nesting of interrelated systems, the biomimetic lens was applied at multiple scales: the chloroplast/solar cell, the leaf/solar panel, the plant/solar array, and the ecosystem/community scale. The results of this study both suggest the direction of further research in the development of biomimetic solar energy systems and provide insight into the effectiveness of biomimetic thinking as a strategy for designing equitable, economical, and ecologically sound systems. / text

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The ever-increasing nature of consumer demands has forced retailers to adopt 'added value' strategies to ensure their competitive edge in the market. Branding is considered a market differentiator, but alone is not enough to convince consumers to make a purchase. Consumers want more. Trends in the contemporary retail industry show that retail sustainability and retail experience design are two of the most successful added value strategies employed. This brings forth the issue of the retail sector's resource intensive and wasteful nature. Natural resources are used to produce everything from products and packaging to the physical retail space including the architectural structure, interior finishes and fittings, all for it to be demolished and discarded as waste at the end of its life cycle. This dissertation explores the value of nature as a model and mentor in the realm of retail design, particularly through application of Biomimetic and Biophilic design theories. Biomimicry is used as a design tool for developing a sustainable retail servicescape that emulates nature's resource efficient and zero-waste principles. Biophilic design strategies are employed towards the development of an in-store retail experience inspired by nature. Margaret Roberts; a well renowned South African herbalist - specialising in the art of healing with medicinal herbs, is the 'client' for this study. The proposed design intervention is the creation of a skincare servicescape for Margaret Roberts that integrates Biomimicry and Biophilia as an added value strategy. / Die immer veranderende aptyt van verbruikers het handelelaars genoop om tradisionele verkoopsdenke te verander en aan te pas ten einde te verseker dat "toegevoegde waarde " ontsluit word in 'n streng kompeterende mark. 'n Handelsmerk word beskou as 'n wesenlikke onderskeier maar is opsigself nie voldoende om verbruikers te oortuig om die produk te bekom nie. Verbruikers verlang meer as dit. Tendense in die kontempor?re verkoops-industrie dui op kleinhandel-volhoubaarheid asook kleinhandel-ontwerp "ondervinding" as twee van die meer suksesvolle strategie? om waarde te ontsluit. Dit plaas die kleinhandel sektor se ho? hulpbron verbruik en vermorsing onder die vergrootglas. Natuurlikke hulpbronne word gebruik, nie net vir die produksie van produkte nie maar ook vir die vervaardiging van verpakking, fisiese handelruimte oprigting insluitende argitektoniese struktuur, binnehuise versierings asook bybehore. Alles net om aan die einde van hul bruikbaarheidslewe afgebreek en weggegooi te word - 'n wesenlikke vermorsing. Hierdie skrywe ondersoek die rol van die natuur as model en mentor in Handelsontwerp met die fokus op die toepassing van Biomimetic en Biophilic ontwerpsbeginsels. Biomimicry word aangewend as 'n ontwerpsinstrument in die ontwikkelling van volhoubaarheids Handels en Dienste-ontwerp wat doeltreffendheid en zero-vermorsing beginsels van die natuur najaag. Biophilic ontwerpsbeginsels word terselfde tyd ook aangewend om die aankoopondervinding in die handelsruimte te ontwikkel en verbeter volgens natuur-geinspireerde beginsels. Margaret Roberts, 'n vernaamde Suid Afrikaanse kruiedeskundige wat spesialiseer in kruiemedisyne, is die kli?nt vir hierdie studie. Die voorgestelde ontwerp is 'n toegepaste handelsruimte vir Margaret Roberts waar Biomimicry en Biomimetic beginsels ingespan word teneinde toegevoegde waarde te ontsluit. / Mini Dissertation (MInt (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Architecture / MInt (Prof) / Unrestricted

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Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone Project / The idea of using nature, as a design model in building construction is not a new one; this innovative technique is known as biomimicry in architecture. This study focuses on biomimicry and its application in three buildings; The University of Arizona’s new Environmental and Natural Resource Phase 2 (ENR2) building; Architect Mick Pearce’s Eastgate Centre in Harare Zimbabwe; and Council House 2 (CH2) in Melbourne Australia. The research in this paper is centered around the ENR2 building, it examines the extent to which biomimcry is applied in terms of aesthetics and performance, by comparing it to the Eastgate Centre and CH2 buildings.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The work presented in this thesis throws light on the supramolecular approach in exploration of bi-porphyrin nanorods system wherein self-assembly plays an important role. Porphyrin based nanorods were synthesized via self-assembly of meso-tetrakis (4-phenylsulfonicacid) porphyrin dihydrochloride and Sn (IV) tetrakis (4-pyridyl) porphyrin. Understanding the sizes and growth mechanism of the porphyrin nanorods by self-assembly and molecular recognition is essential for their successful implementation in nanodevices. Spectroscopic and microscopic studies were carried out to investigate the effect that time, concentration and solvents have on the fabrication of the porphyrin nanorods by ionic self- assembly. This study demonstrated that aggregates of the di- acid form of meso-tetrakis (4-phenylsulfonic acid) porphyrin dihydrochloride and Sn (IV) tetrakis (4-pyridyl) porphyrin resulted in porphyrin nanorods with diameters between 20 nm and 60 nm, and μm in lengths. Enhanced optical properties illustrated the potential for slightly modifying the method of synthesis to influence the physical and optical properties of porphyrin nanorods. The porphyrin nanorods reflectance data demonstrated that these structures are good absorbers of light and therefore could potentially be used to harvest light. The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the porphyrin nanorods were investigated for the first time in this study by second and third harmonic generation techniques. Such study was influenced by the fact that porphyrins have great thermal stability and extended -conjugated macro cyclic ring which give them large nonlinear optical effects. The NLO results showed that the porphyrin nanorods may have many potential uses in photonic applications due to larger third order nonlinear susceptibility. Single molecule spectroscopy was also used to investigate the dynamics of intermolecular and intramolecular processes. Porphyrin nanorods were incorporated into polymer matrices to achieve an arrangement where they can be directly used as a device. The assembly of porphyrin nanorods on track-etched membranes was achieved through altering the surface charge of the respective membranes. Porphyrin nanorods-polymer composites were produced using latex technology and electrospinning techniques. The fibres were characterized with respect to morphology and optical properties. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die werk wat in hierdie tesis beskryf word werp lig op die supramolekulêre benadering in die ondersoek van bi-porfirien nano-silinders waarin self-versameling ‘n belangrike rol speel. Porifirien nano-silinders was voorberei via self-versameling van meso-tetrakis(4-feniel sulfoonsuur) porfirien dihidrochloried en Sn (IV) terakis (4-piridiel) porfirien. Dit is belangrik om die meganismes wat verband hou met die groei en grootte van die nano-silinder struktuur te ondersoek. Dit het ‘n invloed op die self-versameling asook die uiteindelike toepassing. Spectroskopiese en mikroskopiese studies was uitgevoer om die effek van tyd, konsentrasie en oplosmiddel op die selfversamelling te bestudeer. Die studie dui daarop dat bondels van die disuur vorm van meso-tetrakis(4-feniel sulfoonsuur) porfirien dihidrochloried en Sn (IV) terakis (4-piridiel) porfirien het gelei tot porfirien nano-silinders met lengtes tussen 20 nm en 60 nm asook in die mikro meter skaal. Verhoogde optiese eienskappe het die potensiaal om effense veranderinge in die metode om die nano-silinders voor te berei om sodoende ‘n groter invloed op die fisiese en optiese einskappe te hê. Die reflektansie data wys dat hierdie strukture goeie absorbsies van lig toon en daarom geskik sal wees om lig te stoor. Die nie-liniêre optisie (NLO) eienskappe van die profirien nano-silinders was vir die eerste keer ondersoek deur middel van tweed en derde hormoniese generasie tegnieke. Hierdie studie was beïnvloed deur die feit dat porfiriene goeie stabiliteit by hoë temperatuur en ‘n verlengde -gekonjugeerde makro-sikliese ring bevat wat dan groot nie-liniêre optiese effekte gee. Die NLO resultate wys dat die profirien nano-silinders groot potensiaal het in die gebruik van fotoniese toepassings as gevolg van derde orde nie-liniêre vatbaarheid. Enkel molekuul spektroskopie was ook gebruik om die dinamika van intermolekulêre en intramolekulêre prosesse te ondersoek. Porfirien nano-silinders was geïnkorporeer in polimeer matrikse om ‘n eweredige verspreiding te verkry en om direk as ‘n toestel te gebruik. Die versameling van porfirien nano-silinders op baan-ingeëtse membrane was bereik deur die verandering in oppervlak lading van die membrane. Porfirien nano-silinder / polimeer samestellings was verkry deur lateks tegnologie en elektrospin tegnieke. Die vesels was gekarakteriseer in terme van morfologie en optiese eienskappe.

Biomimicry comes from bios, life, and mimesis, to imitate. Biomimicry is becoming an increasingly well-known topic in the field of architecture, imitating nature’s designs and processes to solve human problems. This project uses the oak tree as a model, measure, and mentor to derive sustainable architecture. Biomimicry is examined as a holistic methodology with six steps: identify, interpret, discover, abstract, emulate, and evaluate. Using this methodology, this project investigates oak tree’s closed-loop systems including water, oxygen, and food. The synergies that exist within these systems are emulated to develop a complex green infrastructure of building and landscape systems. This project provides an illustrated process using the biomimicry methodology to generate sustainable architecture.