http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_pawlyn_using_nature_s_genius_in_architecture.html
The talks on Ernst haeckel reminded me of this video i saw recently. Very interesting talk on systems and architecture trying to replicate nature
William Blake (1795/circa 1805) Newton, Colour print finished in ink and watercolour on paper support: 460 x 600 mm on paper, unique Tate Britain
Kevin
ReplyDeleteIt's an excellent talk. I was struck by a number of things. Firstly the idea of 'biomimicry' brought to mind the old Renaissance idea of 'second nature' that so informed the designs of Leonardo da Vinci (Martin Kemp writes well on this). I was also struck by the citing of the structure of radiolaria as one of the inspirations for the design of the Eden Project.
I was less impressed by the notion of nature as a 'catalogue of products'. But overall the talk is a very intelligent approach to the notion of sustainability - a far cry from the empty and largely pointless rhetoric around 'recyling', low energy lightbulbs, much of which is very questionable in terms of energy use in the way it is currently applied.
It was a very positive endorsement of the continuing possibility of 'progress' (an ideal we inherit from the Enlightenment) - intelligently and imaginatively applied.