The Fractal Approach in the Biomimetic Urban Design: Le Corbusier and Patrick Schumacher

Abstract

Biomimetic design process approaches have been emphasized systematically as a result of works among disciplines of current technology and biological science. In order to find solutions for a decrease in biodiversity, pollution, and issues of the ecosystem, the nature experience shows itself in areas of biomimetic products, architecture, and urban designs in which nature-focused invasions are basically being imitated. Nature-focused designs have set their own framework by examining forms of different nature dynamics (scale, function, formation process) by presenting a sustainable environment. It can be seen that designs are made real by adhering to the resolution of forms, understanding, and interpretation of nature and by embracing fractal designs with the effort of creating a sustainable environment. In this study, emphasis was placed on revealed nature-based design approaches. The article addresses biomimetic design processes, reveals the role of fractal parameters in the design process, and examines the use of biomimetic approaches. By drawing attention to the importance of studying and understanding these internal dynamics, the contribution of natural inspiration and fractal concepts to the design process is examined. We examine research related to the concept of biomimetics, creation/development of conceptual proposals, and analysis of the established theoretical proposal through selected urban design examples in order to determine the respective overlaps between these areas. Our study takes the form of an analysis of the formal organization of living things together with a formal analysis focusing on the design principles. We try to analyze the design principles and the changes in the principles, and discuss the resulting data within the framework of these concepts. The urban designs of Le Corbusier and Patrick Schumacher, who are important names of the 20th century, were examined in line with the findings obtained in terms of biomimesis levels, namely, the organism level, behavior level, ecosystem level, and functional level. Comparisons of urban design approaches are made using the meta-analysis method with respect to findings obtained as a result of an examination of the golden ratio, modular system, fractal, and parameter concepts of urban design. For this reason, when the fractal concept, which is one of the dynamics of biomimetic-oriented nature, is handled with biomimetic levels and its contribution to the design processes is investigated, we are able to determine that it has important parameters in terms of sustainability. This study aims to contribute to the field of industrial products and urban design disciplines in architectural design.