Etta Kaner

Have you ever wondered what inspired some of the innovative architecture you see? As it turns out, the ideas for a number of buildings and bridges were influenced by a study of what works well in nature, as this fascinating book points out.

The author observes:

“Many architects look to nature to help them solve their building challenges. And they’ve found some incredible solutions, including a cactus-inspired way to cool a building without using a lot of energy and an earthquake-proof bridge design based on the roots of a special type of grass!”

As a website on biomimicry points out:

"The central idea is that nature has already fixed many problems society is facing. Animals, plants, and microorganisms are experienced engineers. They know what works, what’s appropriate, and most importantly, what lasts on Earth. The main belief of the biomimicry approach is that after 3,8 billion years of research and development, what did not work is now a fossil and what is around us is the secret to survival."

Some notable structures and the natural elements on which they are based are described in the book, including the famous “Gherkin” in London, the Rion-Antirion Bridge in Greece, and the Sky Gate Bridge in Osaka, Japan.

For each creation, the author reviews how and why it was made and what phenomenon in nature led the architect to think of it. There are even some activities readers can do to see for themselves why these natural solutions work so well. Readers will also discover how triangles and hexagons, so commonly found in nature (such as the hexagonal shape of honeycombs) add to the efficiency of buildings. For those who think math has no application in the real world in these days when computers can do all your sums, this book will prove that is not the case at all!

Speaking of math, readers will learn about fractals and how they are used in building, and of the interesting fact that Venice, Italy has so many palaces with fractal structures it is sometimes called "Fractal Venice.”

A few architects who rely heavily on nature for ideas are also highlighted, such as Frank Gehry, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Santiago Calatrava.

Those who have been to Milwaukee will be aware of Calatrava’s art museum there, which has a moveable sunscreen with wings that mimic the birds on the nearby lake. It has a wingspan of a Boeing 747 airplane, and can open or close in just three and half minutes, as it does every day at noon to the delight of all the visitors who make sure they are there at the right time.

Another activity for readers on a two-page spread shows a number of natural objects, like a lotus flower and a bird nest, and suggests studying them and creating ideas for structures based on their attributes. The next two-page spread reveals structures that have done exactly that, such as the Beijing National Stadium, also known as The Bird’s Nest.

Back matter includes a glossary and list of further sources.

Excellent illustrations by Carl Wiens show readers the “ins and outs" of all that is being discussed.

Evaluation: This book for readers 7 and up provides examples of and justification for biomimicry that will give readers a new way of looking at the world, both natural and created. The material is clearly written and entertaining, and provides an excellent STEM resource for lessons on math, technology and biology.… (meer)