International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)
Volume 10, Issue 04, April 2019, pp. 1570-1577, Article ID: IJCIET_10_04_163
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=04
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
© IAEME Publication
Scopus Indexed
NATURAL TECHNOLOGIES IN
CONSTRUCTION
Kochev Grigory Soslanovich, Shafeeva Svetlana Ilnurovna, Kozlov Aleksey Olegovich,
Tuvykin Dmitry Eduardovich, Kuzin Alexey Vladimirovich, Vildanov Ruslan
Rasimovich, Danilova Yuliya Dmitrievna, Iambroskina Irina Georgievna, Kirpichenkov
Andrey Andreevich and Danko Vladislav Viktorovich
Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (MGSU) National Research University, 26,
Yaroslavskoye Shosse, Moscow, Russia
ABSTRACT
The studies of the development of a new phenomenon in architectural formation,
based on the integration of natural technologies in the field of construction of
structures, have been carried out. The influence of the ecological approach on the
emergence of a direction in architecture, conventionally called “bionic architecture”,
is shown. The relevance and prospects of this area as one of the conditions for the
transition to sustainable urban development are established.
The aim of the study is to identify effective ways of developing architectural shaping
of public facilities on the basis of an environmental approach. This is due to the
emergence of a new role of architecture in the field of the sustainable urban
development through the creation of a comfortable, accessible and safe environment,
aesthetically attractive and functional. At the same time, special attention to the
economic efficiency of facilities is paid, i.e. reducing the cost of construction and
operation of a building or structure. This goal can be achieved only through the
improvement of design and construction technologies, the development of the building
materials industry with the transition to an interdisciplinary approach in solving
problems, i.e. with the close interaction of specialists in various fields.
In the study of this issue the analytical approach, synergetic approach, inductive
method are applied.
Key words: ecology; architecture; shaping; natural technologies.
Cite this Article: Kochev Grigory Soslanovich, Shafeeva Svetlana Ilnurovna, Kozlov
Aleksey Olegovich, Tuvykin Dmitry Eduardovich, Kuzin Alexey Vladimirovich,
Vildanov Ruslan Rasimovich, Danilova Yuliya Dmitrievna, Iambroskina Irina
Georgievna, Kirpichenkov Andrey Andreevich and Danko Vladislav Viktorovich,
Natural Technologies in Construction.. International Journal of Civil Engineering and
Technology, 10(04), 2019, pp. 1570-1577
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=04
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1570
editor@iaeme.com
Kochev Grigory Soslanovich, Shafeeva Svetlana Ilnurovna, Kozlov Aleksey Olegovich, Tuvykin
Dmitry Eduardovich, Kuzin Alexey Vladimirovich, Vildanov Ruslan Rasimovich, Danilova
Yuliya Dmitrievna, Iambroskina Irina Georgievna, Kirpichenkov Andrey Andreevich and
Danko Vladislav Viktorovich
From time immemorial, architects have drawn their inspiration from the objects of nature,
finding harmony in their external forms or highlighting special properties due to their internal
structure, which they have transferred to the field of architecture.
Gradually, such a desire to repeat and understand the principles of the structure of living
organisms has grown into a new direction: architectural bionics, and the idea of transferring
models of nature into the field of construction and structures has been completely revealed.
However, the Kastalsky source has not dried up to this day, since nature again opens up new
possibilities and approaches to architectural design and design for humanity.
In the second half of the last century, a method of shaping and designing buildings based
on natural forms, called “architectural bionics”, was developed thanks to the active work of
scientists (architects, designers, engineers, etc.) in the field of bionics.A significant
contribution to this process was made by Yu.S. Lebedev, V.V. Ermolov, V.D. Ivanenko and
others.
Natural-like forms began to appear more often in the works of architects of the XX – XXI
centuries. (for example, N. Foster, S. Calatrava, Z. Hadid, and others). However, the process
of "learning" from nature has continued.
Through the development of science, technology and technics, a new direction has begun
to take shape, it is called “natural technologies”. This is a new stage in the collaboration of
technical thought and nature.
This is not about copying of the appearance or the internal structure of a natural object. The
principles of the functioning of living beings, their unusual properties, behavior, and interaction
with the outside world are taken as a basis. This approach allowed us to obtain new types of
building materials and structures, and also had an impact on the change in the principles of
shaping. To be more exact the approach has got the impact, since this area is at the initial stage
of its development. Nevertheless, there is a reason to believe that a bright future and widespread
acceptance of this approach are being expected, since such an innovative architecture is a kind
of absolute idea of sustainable development. This is no longer copying of nature, but nature
itself, giving birth to technologies and being born by them.
This is a significant difference of the bionic architecture from the previous stages, which
can be classified as follows:
A period of imitation of natural forms: a source of inspiration for the creation of
architectural objects are natural forms - the outer shells and contours of animate and inanimate
nature;
The search period for the relationship between the natural form and the function of the
object: the design of an architectural object is based on the principles of natural shaping
(architectural bionics);
Application of natural technologies in architecture: it is transferring of models and
principles of vital activity and functioning of natural objects into architecture with the aim of
greening and transition to sustainable development (bionic architecture).
The authors attempted to investigate this phenomenon in order to theorize and identify new
emerging trends in architecture. For clarity of the proposed thesis it would be appropriate to
consider a number of examples of such structures, carried out at the level of experimental
development.
The staff of the ICD ITKE research institute, observing the behavior of the spider,
developed a special mechanism that repeats its movements at the time of creating a web from
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Natural Technologies in Construction.
the web, which made it possible to get a unique pavilion both by construction principle and by
form-building method (Pic. 1).
Pic. 1. Major League Baseball Research ITKE Pavilion, 2014–2015, Achim
Menges, Institute for Computational Design (ICD) at the University of Stuttgart [1]
Pneumatic formwork, reinforced with carbon fiber from the inside, creates a lightweight
pavilion shell with unique architectural qualities. The design is based on the biological
principle of construction (interlacing of fibers) and reinforced with armoring. This method is
relevant for use in architecture, because it does not require complex formwork and can be
adapted to various types of structures. Use of the carbon fiber and fluoroplastic membrane
contributed to formation of a strong but flexible structure, such as skin. The form on the inner
flexible shell was created with the use of adaptive computational design [1].
The laboratory of Neri Oksman developed the Silk Pavilion project (Silk pavilion) (Pic. 2).
The steel frame serves as the basis for attaching the silkworm's flat cocoon. Caterpillars in a
relatively short period are able to create a structure of transparent silk webs that have sufficient
strength and aesthetic appearance. In addition, this method of forming an object does not
require the death of insects, on the contrary, contributes to their reproduction and further use
without harm to them [2]
a)
b)
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Kochev Grigory Soslanovich, Shafeeva Svetlana Ilnurovna, Kozlov Aleksey Olegovich, Tuvykin
Dmitry Eduardovich, Kuzin Alexey Vladimirovich, Vildanov Ruslan Rasimovich, Danilova
Yuliya Dmitrievna, Iambroskina Irina Georgievna, Kirpichenkov Andrey Andreevich and
Danko Vladislav Viktorovich
c)
d)
Pic. 2. Silk Pavilion, N. Oxman (Silk pavilion) (https://www.ted.com/talks/neri_
oxman_design_at_the_intersection_of_technology_and_biology)
Specialists of Harvard have developed a new building material made from crushed mollusk
shells [3]. Using the 3D printing method and a robot with an extruded system that allows to
create material with different properties when printing, a group of engineers has developed a
new environmentally friendly construction material that, after the expiration of its life does not
harm the environment.
The crushed chitin is transformed by 3D printing into an integral seamless construction,
which is a synthesis of a massive support and an openwork mesh (Pic.3). Such structures can
be used to create structural systems and individual elements of a building, as a filling of window
openings; to create furniture, interior items, etc. on their basis.
Pic. 3. 3-D printing based on chitin [3]
In 2012 Ginger Dosier (head of bioMASON) offered an interesting idea for growing bricks
using microorganisms and bio-cement [4]. Such bricks do not need to be fired, which provides
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Natural Technologies in Construction.
significant savings on fuel; can be produced directly at the construction site at normal ambient
air temperature (Pic. 4).
Currently, the material is being tested and is preparing to launch in mass production. These
examples demonstrate the transferring from the usual design framework to the new method of
creating objects based on natural technologies.
The algorithm for creating an object of architecture can look like this:
- Formulation of the architectural task (problem);
- Identification of solutions to similar problems in the field of nature;
- Observation of the behavior of living organisms in order to study in detail their ways of
solving similar problems;
- Adaptation of the identified methods to the architecture;
- Approbation of the adapted methods;
- Introduction to the architectural process.
Pic. 4. Innovative bioMASON brick [4]
In the process of observing living things, researchers pay great attention to the technique
by which they form their structures; substances ("building materials"), which they use to create
various objects (for example, their habitation), and the method of production of these
substances.
Based on these observations, there are such options for the application of natural
technologies in the field of architecture:
- A living being as a prototype of an architectural object;
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editor@iaeme.com
Kochev Grigory Soslanovich, Shafeeva Svetlana Ilnurovna, Kozlov Aleksey Olegovich, Tuvykin
Dmitry Eduardovich, Kuzin Alexey Vladimirovich, Vildanov Ruslan Rasimovich, Danilova
Yuliya Dmitrievna, Iambroskina Irina Georgievna, Kirpichenkov Andrey Andreevich and
Danko Vladislav Viktorovich
- A living creature as a “builder” of architectural objects (bacteria, silkworm caterpillars);
- A living being as a source of building material.as a “builder” of architectural objects
(bacteria, silkworm caterpillars);
- A living being as a source of building material.
Of course, the previous “branches” of bionic shaping in architecture were not forgotten and
they received a new development.
For example, the original designs of houses made of bamboo. Each construction is unique.
Moreover, each bamboo stem has a unique size and bend, which means that the future
construction is not made of universal elements, but is tightly intertwined by selecting the
necessary part for all parameters.
Long ago it was believed that because of the harm caused by insects, these materials are
short-lived; now it is possible to create unique objects using these natural materials, which are
now as durable and strong as steel or concrete. A prime example of this is the magnificent
bamboo houses built by Elora Hardy and her team in Bali (Fig. 5).
This is a group of artisans, architects and designers engaged in the design of bamboo houses
and household items. They called it “Ibuka”, which means: “my mother is nature” [5]. Their
objects strike by complexity of forms and grace of bends. There are no two identical bamboo
stems, therefore every house, bridge or separate room is unique.
In her presentation, Elora Hardy talks about the potential of bamboo as an environmentally
sustainable material and as a source of inspiration. The properties of the bamboo stem dictate
the principles of shaping such structures. But working with the material, it is required to follow
its own rules, taking into account the weight and strength of the structures, therefore the design
period is quite long [6].
The strength of a bamboo stalk is to stretch like that of steel; resistance to compression is
like that of concrete, but light, since it is hollow inside.
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Natural Technologies in Construction.
Pic. 5. House of bamboo from the laboratory Ibuku [5]
These examples demonstrate how an architectural bionics, that was formed in the second
half of the twentieth century, is transformed into a new direction - the next stage of
development. When the architect is not limited by copying of forms and their combinatory or
does not transmit the design features of natural objects into architecture, but applies the
principles of living beings functioning, their properties, the behavior and materials they create.
This proves the enormous importance of a transdisciplinary approach in science, which
allows obtaining a synergistic effect; confirms the thesis that discoveries are made in the
"border" zone of science, in the places of their collision / intersection.
The synthesis of innovative techniques, technologies and artistic images under the direct
influence of the ecological approach gave rise to the emergence of a new global style. It is
difficult to predict its further development, but you can try to create a cognitive model (Pic. 6).
Pic. 6. Cognitive model of bionic architecture
Its basis (core) is an environmental approach that influences the change in attitudes towards
the use of planet resources, the development of technologies and materials in the construction
industry, which, in turn, changes the principles of shaping in architecture. The goal of the
architecture is to ensure the sustainable development of cities through the creation of a
comfortable, accessible and safe environment, aesthetically attractive and functional.
At the same time, special attention is paid to the economic efficiency of the facilities, i.e.,
the reduction of the costs of building operation. This goal can be achieved only through the
improvement of design and construction technologies. Natural technologies occupy an
important niche in this process, since they allow increasing the efficiency of the resource, to
increase the strength characteristics of objects and, accordingly, the service life without
damaging the aesthetic component, reducing raw material and energy costs in the production
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editor@iaeme.com
Kochev Grigory Soslanovich, Shafeeva Svetlana Ilnurovna, Kozlov Aleksey Olegovich, Tuvykin
Dmitry Eduardovich, Kuzin Alexey Vladimirovich, Vildanov Ruslan Rasimovich, Danilova
Yuliya Dmitrievna, Iambroskina Irina Georgievna, Kirpichenkov Andrey Andreevich and
Danko Vladislav Viktorovich
of building materials and structures. They correspond the emerging transition to the model of
sustainable development.
REFERENCES
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
University of Stuttgart. Institute for Computational Design and Construction. ICD/ITKE
Research Pavilion 2014-15. Access conditions: http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/? p=12965
Neri Oxman. Design at the intersection of technology and biology [electronic resource].
Conditionsofaccess:https://www.ted.com/talks/neri_oxman_design_at_the_intersection_o
f_technology_and_biology
Bensoussan H Neri Oxman. A 3D printing pioneer and visionary. Conditions of access:
www.sculpteo.com/blog/2016/10/05/neri-oxman-a-3d-printing-pioneer-and-visionary/
bioMASON [official site]. Conditions of access: http://biomason.com/
Ibuku [official website]. Conditions of access: http://ibuku.com/
Magical houses, made of bamboo. Conditions of access: https://www.ted.com
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