Biomimicry and Biophilia

From Andrea DeVico:

Here is a link to the tree hugger blog, featuring the Eastgate Building I discussed in my presentation last night. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/biomimetic_buil_1.php

also a link to other fascinating case studies some of which are available and in use today. http://www.biomimicry.net/casestudiesB.htm

and to begin training... http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/Education%20and%20Training%20Detailed.htm

and Janine Benysus's speech, very intriguing!! http://www.ted.com/index.php/speakers/view/id/19

From Holly:

As an interesting side note to biomimicry, I had a conversation this spring with Pliny Fisk, III from the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems. We discussed Biophilia which is the psychology behind the human need for a connection to nature in the built environment. (The Green Guide for Health Care includes a credit point for creating this.) Beyond views and incorporating natural elements, it includes things like irregular clustering of elements, creating a sense of enclosure in spaces, rhythms that mimic nature and areas that encourage exploration and discovery.

Here are a few links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biophilia_hypothesis

http://www.aia.org/nwsltr_print.cfm?pagename=cote_a_200608_biophilia

http://arts.envirolink.org/interviews_and_conversations/EOWilson.html

http://www.worldwidewords.org/turnsofphrase/tp-bio2.htm