How can biomimicry inspire sustainable solutions in urban planning?

Urban planning can be informed by biomimicry, a concept that involves copying the design, processes and systems in nature to solve issues such as energy use, waste disposal and making water flow easily as well as building elastic infrastructure , helping designers develop more inventive and long-lasting town plans that are ECO-friendly.

Translating complex ecological systems into practical urban solutions is challenging. Biomimicry identifies functional analogies between natural systems and urban functions. Urban environments are vastly different from natural ecosystems, and direct replication may not always work effectively. Critics argue that these analogies oversimplify complex interactions. Urban systems involve social, economic, and political factors that at times cannot be directly mirrored from nature.

In my view, the Biotope City in Vienna is a newly built quarter that has internalized a lot of knowledge from biomimicry. Learning from the knowledge of building and planning from and with nature and the knowledge of natural processes inevitably means thinking and acting in an integrated way. In Germany, this means sitting down together with all relevant stakeholders BEFORE the actual planning (planning phase 0) and taking a look: What do we want to achieve together in this neighborhood? How do we want to build and plan sustainable infrastructure and urban development? What contribution do we make to the natural environment and to our public services? Just for Germany this will be a revolution in local governance thinking and behaviour!

When I was practicing full time as an urban designer I always considered ideas from nature in terms of organisation and complexity. The hardness of the built process often blinds designers to ideas of the sort of integration and richness found in nature. My view of a city is that it is comparable to a jungle. There are basement/root areas, trunk/built areas and canopy/roof top areas. Jungles use their canopies in ways that we do not use our roofs for example. Solar panels on roofs are an example of the way that the jungle captures energy. Biomimicry ideas can be extrapolated from many such comparisons and the best designers will use them, which even if not directly transferable, can enrich the outcomes of complex urban design schemes.

Biomimicry is what? It is basically designing on the living. Which will help us to produce structures and design that will cooperate with the environment and can work in harmony to ensure sustainability. For instance, designing a building like a beehive with that much ventilation will help the building to ensure energy saving cooling mechanism, similarly, insulating buildings like the skins of an animal will help in the energy saving as well. There can be similar other possibilities. We just have to think and work!!!

While the densification of cities makes them potentially more energy-efficient in terms of transportation, achieving such efficiency in balance with livability and smooth traffic depends a lot on the city's streets and transportation network configuration and the degree to which it has evolved organically and based on collective intelligence. A famous example that can highlight the potential of biomimicry in designing such networks is the experimental use of slime moulds for recreating the metro network of Tokyo. On the other hand, the densification of cities may impact their climatization energy consumption and solar energy production potential in very complex ways, akin to the dynamics of trees in a forest as a multi-agent system.

Nature is incredibly energy efficient, utilizing energy in ways that minimize waste and maximize efficiency. By mimicking natural processes such as photosynthesis or the efficient movement of fluids in organisms, urban planners can design buildings and infrastructure that are more energy-efficient and sustainable.

Pour concilier réglementation, coûts et efficacité, il est important d'adapter les politiques et les normes pour encourager l’innovation biomimétique, tout en assurant la conformité avec les exigences environnementales et de sécurité. Bien que les coûts initiaux puissent être élevés pour la recherche et de la technologie, les économies à long terme peuvent compenser ces dépenses. Utiliser des solutions inspirées de la nature pour optimiser la consommation énergétique permet d'augmenter l'efficacité énergétique globale des infrastructures urbaines. L'intégration du biomimétisme dans l'urbanisme nécessite une approche équilibrée qui valorise les avantages à long terme, malgré les défis initiaux en termes de réglementation et de coûts.

Nature has a tendancy to recycle itself. for example, waste from one organism tends to become a resource for another creating a life cycle. Similarly urban planners can design waste management systems that imitates the life cycle concept such as circular economies where all waste is reused or recycled. In my opinion, urban composting systems can be designed to replicate natural processes such as backyard composting, vermicomposting, community composting and municipal composting programs (especially in cities with high density). Promoting such methods and monitoring them regularly can make huge difference in the long term. Benefits : waste reduction, methane gas reduction, increase in urban gardening and awareness of waste management.

In nature, there is no concept of waste - one organism's waste is another's resource. By applying principles of biomimicry to waste management in urban areas, cities can develop systems that mimic natural cycles of decomposition, recycling, and reuse to minimize waste and reduce the impact on the environment.

Nature holds valuable lessons in water management, with ecosystems showcasing efficient ways to capture, store, and distribute water. By emulating natural water systems like wetlands or tree root systems, cities can improve their water management practices, reduce flooding risks, and enhance water quality. The water crisis that occurred in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil in May 2024 showcased the importance of learning from nature's efficient water management strategies. Severe flooding and water shortages in the state were exacerbated by extreme weather events, deforestation, and poor water management practices. This crisis highlighted the urgent need for cities to adopt sustainable and nature-inspired solutions to prevent such disasters.

Pour concilier l'utilisation de solutions biomimétiques , comme les jardins de pluie et les marais filtrants, avec le coût foncier élevé, ils est nécessaire de mobiliser de multiples pistes. Utiliser des structures verticales et des toits verts pour maximiser l'espace. Optimiser les espaces sous-utilisés, comme les zones autour des infrastructures de transport et les parkings, serait bénéfique. Adopter des conceptions modulaires et promouvoir les partenariats public-privé aide à partager les coûts. Les aménagements multifonctionnels, combinant gestion de l'eau et espaces de loisirs, ajoutent de la valeur. Et surtout, en valorisant les bénéfices écologiques et économiques, ces aménagements peuvent justifier les coûts initiaux plus élevés.

Na minha experiência, observei com bastante afinco que os ecossistemas naturais promovem a interação entre diferentes espécies, e que o planejamento urbano pode incluir espaços verdes compartilhados, como parques e jardins comunitários. Esses espaços não apenas promovem a conectividade entre os moradores, mas também incentivam a colaboração e o senso de comunidade como coletivo. Um forte exemplo disso são os corredores ecológicos na natureza, que por sua vez permitem a movimentação de espécies entre habitats. Os corredores ecológicos urbanos podem conectar diferentes partes da cidade, facilitando o acesso das pessoas a serviços, áreas verdes e oportunidades de emprego. Isso fortalece os laços entre as diversas comunidades urbanas.

El espacio público es de gran importancia para las ciudades pues las define y es ESENCIAL para potenciar la conectividad social y la sensación de comunidad. El urbanismo en general en Europa, busca centros urbanos densos, donde haya mezcla de usos y se limita el acceso de los coches a las zonas más céntricas, con calles peatonales. Se da prioridad al espacio público frente al privado. Se fomentan los pequeños comercios en las plantas bajas de las ciudades, como lugar de transición entre la calle y la privacidad de nuestras casas. Estos comercios aportan economía, intercambio, cohesión social y seguridad. Decía Jane Jacobs, que una calle transitada tiene posibilidades de ser una calle segura. Por contra, una poco concurrida es más insegura

Biomimicry can also inform strategies to enhance community connectivity in urban areas. By observing how organisms in nature communicate, collaborate, and form interconnected networks, planners can design cities that foster social interactions, community cohesion, and a sense of belonging among residents.

En el diseño responsivo es muy importante el desarrollo de tecnología, específicamente "sensores electrónicos", con los que se puede lograr que un edificio reaccione y responda mediante una acción por ejemplo ante la lluvia, ante rayos de sol, ante aire contaminado, etc. Es el futuro.

Nature has perfected the art of adaptive and responsive design over millions of years of evolution. Urban planners can draw inspiration from how organisms respond to changes in their environment to design cities that are more resilient, flexible, and able to withstand various challenges such as climate change or urbanization.

La conception réactive de l'espace urbain, qui intègre la capacité des espaces urbains à s'adapter aux conditions changeantes de leur environnement, présente des défis et des avantages spécifiques par rapport à une conception urbaine classique. Il est crucial de comprendre comment équilibrer l'impact politique et les coûts de mise en œuvre de telles approches. Bien que les coûts initiaux des projets réactifs puissent être plus élevés, les bénéfices à long terme en termes de résilience, d'efficacité et de soutien politique peuvent largement compenser ces investissements. Une planification et une gestion efficaces sont essentielles pour maximiser ces avantages tout en minimisant les risques et les coûts.

Redundancy In ecosystems function is hardly ever left to a single species. This ensures resilience with healthy competition. Urban planning that focuses on specialization may want to be inspired by ecosystems so that if one system collapses, others can pick up from it

Nature demonstrates and teaches us the importance of balance, such as how the carbon dioxide we exhale is converted to oxygen by plants. By incorporating biomimicry into urban planning, cities can create sustainable, resilient, and efficient systems that harmonize with natural processes. This harmony fosters a balance that ensures the city's sustainability for generations to come.