Author(s)

S. Arslan & A. G. Sorguc

Abstract

Similarities between \“structures in nature” and \“man-made structures”: biomimesis in architecture S. Arslan & A. G. Sorguc Department of Architecture, Middle East Technical University, Turkey Abstract In this paper, we aim to reveal the similarities between \“the structures in nature” and \“man-made structures”. These similarities can be observed from the very beginning of mankind, in many engineering and architectural designs. It can easily be seen that even though the scales, functions and processes encountered in nature are different, ‘the design constraints’ and ‘the objectives’ are the same in what man creates: functionality, optimization, and cost effectiveness (minimizing material and energy consumption). Thus, structures in nature exhibiting great lightness and yet rigidity with forms having capacity to endure internal and external forces in an optimum way are always a source of inspiration for many progressive architects and engineers. Since 1998, the term ‘biomimesis’ (bios, meaning l

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