Product Design and Biomimetics

Abstract

Building professionals face urgent and complex challenges related to climate change adaptation and biodiversity loss. It is essential to restructure and upgrade cities to promote ecological and social health rather than damage it. The application of biomimetics emerges as a solution where whole ecosystems and their functions are mimicked to significantly improve the ecological performance of buildings and urban environments. It contributes to some of the United Nations global Sustainable Development Goals such as “Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”; “Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”; “Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”; “Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”; and “Goal 15: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss”. The aim is to link research with practical development, sharing the hypothesis that in the future buildings and cities can be active contributors in socio-ecological systems, through strategic and technological approaches. A building has been designed in Granada that integrates with ecosystem services to address water stress and apply regenerative design principles. Extensive research covers the topics mentioned above, as well as important elements for future practical applications. The result is a building with a cyclic rainwater harvesting, purification and reuse system that meets the established objectives. Rainwater and humidity collecting blades are used, taking advantage of the non-potable resource obtained.