Biomimicry: Sustainable Architecture
In Harare, Zimbabwe, the Eastgate Center, a shopping mall and office building conserves energy by using no air conditioning, but instead uses a unique and complex ventilation system. This is the first time I have heard something being done like this, but this building was constructed in 1996 by architect Mick Pearce with the help of various engineers at Arap Associates. The basis of how this building was constructed is through biomimicry, an anthropogenic emulation of natures processes, and apparently is used in architecture that we see here as well as bullet proof vests and other things.
The design of the Eastgate Center is based off of the Zimbabwe Termite mounds that have a very similar ventilation system as the building does to keep a type of fungus they farm at a specific temperature. The building ventilation system works by drawing in air from outside and then cooling or warming the air with the buildings mass depending on which is hotter.
I thought that this concept was really cool, and the website I found the article about it is apparently some sort of green architecture website that has various other articles on green buildings and other green design things. You can read more about the Eastgate Center here:http://inhabitat.com/building-modelled-on-termites-eastgate-centre-in-zimbabwe/
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