建筑仿生外表皮设计

Much attention is paid to the importance of building envelopes these days and it is seen that many façade problems have been solved by taking inspiration from nature. Biomimetics is the science that allows a deeper look into the appearance and behavior of organisms in nature. Biomimetics is solving the building problem by changing how buildings are being constructed as it takes notes from nature. This research uses nature to explore the prospects of efficient building skins that provide desirable and aesthetically pleasing solutions to building problems. Major dealings of the research include identifying core issues in the skins of Commercial buildings of Lahore that lead to inefficiency and inadequate connection between people and place. Since the building envelope separates indoor from outdoor, it is inherent for the façade to be well suited to the energy needs of the building. The main aim of this research is to produce a catalog of building skins based on natural phenomena that could help resolve the major requirements and needs of contemporary architecture in Lahore. An attempt has been made to upgrade building skins by taking inspiration from the various phenomena in nature and applying biomimetic principles of design to enhance the responsiveness of these otherwise mundane and monotonous skins. The catalog for providing façade solutions is developed using biomimetic principles as a core concept and then applying digital tools like Rhino and ParaCloud Gem to find the results in a form of building facades. Keywords: Biomimicry, Nature, Building Skins, Biomimetic Facades, Digital Tools.

Introduction. Recent advances in computational design have transformed architectural facades from static envelopes into dynamic systems capable of adapting to environmental conditions in order to enhance thermal comfort and energy efficiency. Purpose of the study. This study aims to evaluate the thermal performance of an adaptive biomimetic building skin (ABBS), inspired by plant thermoregulation mechanisms, applied to a typical residential building located in Guelma, Algeria, which is characterized by a hot Mediterranean climate. Methods. Following the thermal validation of a base model, the research integrated two complementary approaches: a problem-driven biomimetic strategy to define the morphology and kinetic behavior of facade modules, and a parametric simulation workflow developed in Rhino Grasshopper, coupled with the Ladybug and Honeybee plugins for environmental and energy analysis. The ABBS was tested under five aperture configurations (−30° to +30°) across east, south, and west orientations during representative summer and winter periods, based on the ASHRAE Standard 55 adaptive comfort model. Results. The results demonstrate that the best-performing scenarios achieved up to a 17.7 % reduction in overheating hours during summer and up to a 22 % improvement in thermal comfort during winter through enhanced passive solar gains. This study confirms the potential of bio-inspired responsive facades to optimize indoor thermal conditions and highlights the effectiveness of computational biomimicry as a pathway toward climate-adaptive and energy-efficient architectural envelopes contributing to sustainable building design.

Daylight Discomfort Glare (DDG) limits the effectiveness of natural light in office spaces, particularly in Cairo’s hot climate, where varying sun angles throughout the day impact visual comfort. The research provides a parametric design tool that integrate building skin designs based on user specified parameters, a daylighting simulation engine that assesses daylighting performance using a single point-in-time method for each design variant, and an optimization tool that helps identify the most optimal design solution based on maximizing daylighting performance while reducing (DDG) for southern orientation in Egyptian office buildings. Through seasonally adaptive design, this study demonstrates how effectively biomimetic building skin can enhance indoor visual comfort. Across four specific test points, the proposed system reduced glare by up to 31% while maintaining indoor illuminance levels within the recommended range of 500–2000 lux compared to an unshaded base case. For June, a 90% perforation ratio with a 20 cm shading extrusion proved most effective, offering a balanced approach to daylight access and glare mitigation, especially in the morning and afternoon, while medium ratios performed better at noon. In December, perforation ratios of 50–60% combined with a 30 cm extrusion effectively blocked low-angle sunlight and reduced glare.

The built environment faces significant challenges in managing energy demands amidst rising temperatures and increasing concerns linked to climate change. Meeting carbon emissions targets and resource management goals necessitates urgent innovation in more energy-efficient cooling solutions. Nature offers a large database of adaptive and efficient thermal solutions that can be harnessed through biomimetic methods in building design and systems. Emerging biomimetic and computational approaches hold promise in facilitating practical application efforts. This paper investigates the translation of morphological features from elephant skin to building facades, optimizing their inherent cooling capabilities through computational design using evolutionary algorithms. Through this exploration, we propose a set of generalized evolutionary principles, offering a foundational framework for the development of textured facade tiles with the aim of mitigating heat gain from solar radiation. This study provides an in-depth analysis of how assembly, texture depth, and orientation impact thermal performance, enabling the design of more effective passive cooling systems through an understanding of the relationship between morphological variations in textured surfaces and environmental performance. Future research may involve studying natural convection dynamics, optimizing capillary networks, evaluating materials for water adhesion and cleaning, assessing impacts on biological growth, and exploring biodiversity integration within textured facade panels.

No abstract available

The building sector contributes significantly to global energy consumption, with ventilation systems often accounting for a substantial share of this demand. Traditional static façades and mechanical ventilation strategies can be energy-intensive and lack responsiveness to changing environmental and occupancy conditions. This study proposes a Biomimetic Adaptive Ventilation Skin (BAVS), inspired by honeybee thermoregulation, specifically their collective fanning behaviour, to enhance energy performance and indoor environmental quality in buildings targeting net-zero energy operation. A mixed-methods approach integrating EnergyPlus simulations, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling, and prototype testing was employed. Results demonstrate that BAVS reduces annual energy use intensity by approximately 20% compared to a static façade, improves ventilation rates to 2.5 air changes per hour, and lowers average CO₂ concentrations to around 400 ppm. The system further achieved a 40% reduction in actuation energy relative to conventional mechanical ventilation and increased thermal comfort compliance from 60% to 92% of occupied hours under ASHRAE 55 adaptive criteria. These findings validate the feasibility of translating biological thermoregulation principles into adaptive façade systems and highlight BAVS as a practical strategy for improving energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and occupant comfort in net-zero building applications.

Enhancing the thermal performance of building façades is vital for reducing energy demand in hot desert climates, where envelope heat gain increases cooling loads. This study investigates the integration of biomimicry into opaque ventilated façade (OVF) systems as a novel approach to reduce façade surface temperatures. Thirteen bio-inspired façade configurations, modeled after strategies observed in nature, were evaluated using computational fluid dynamics simulations to assess their effectiveness in increasing airflow and reducing inner skin surface temperatures. Results show that all proposed biomimetic solutions outperformed the baseline OVF in terms of thermal performance, with the wide top mound configuration achieving the greatest temperature reduction—up to 5.9 °C below the baseline OVF and 16.4 °C below an unventilated façade. The study introduces an innovative methodology that derives façade design parameters from nature and validates them through simulation. These findings highlight the potential of nature-based solutions to improve building envelope performance in extreme climates.

Hot-humid climates pose persistent challenges to building thermal comfort due to high ambient temperatures, elevated relative humidity, and limited diurnal temperature variation. Conventional mechanical cooling systems dominate these regions but significantly contribute to energy consumption and carbon emissions. Passive cooling strategies provide a sustainable alternative; however, their effectiveness in humid environments is constrained by moisture control limitations. This study investigates an interdisciplinary approach that integrates biomimetic architectural principles with machine learning (ML)-driven computational design to develop optimized passive cooling architectures suitable for hot-humid climates. Drawing inspiration from naturally evolved biological systems—such as termite mounds, which regulate temperature through self-organized ventilation networks, and elephant skin, whose wrinkled morphology enhances convective and evaporative heat dissipation—this research translates biological strategies into parametric architectural models. These models are subsequently optimized using genetic algorithms (GAs) and multi-objective ML frameworks to minimize thermal discomfort while reducing cooling energy demand. A structured framework is proposed that integrates biomimetic abstraction, parametric modeling, environmental simulation, and evolutionary optimization. Performance evaluation is conducted using adaptive thermal comfort indices under representative hot-humid climate datasets. Simulated case studies demonstrate that ML-optimized biomimetic ventilation systems and façade morphologies can reduce indoor thermal discomfort by 20–40% compared to conventional passive designs, while also decreasing cooling loads by up to 35%. The findings highlight the capacity of ML-driven biomimetic design to address the dual challenges of heat and humidity through geometry, airflow control, and surface adaptation rather than mechanical dependence. Despite challenges related to computational intensity and biological abstraction fidelity, the study establishes a robust foundation for next-generation, climate-responsive architecture. This work contributes to sustainable building design discourse and aligns with global energy-efficiency and climate resilience goals.

In this study, it is aimed to improve the building skin system created with a nature-inspired biomimetic approach in terms of energy efficiency by considering both design and simulation processes together. Within the scope of the study, the entire architectural integration process of the building skin system developed for the office unit located on the south facade of a fictitious office building in Doha, Qatar was discussed. The effects of the developed biomimetic skin design on cooling load and daylight parameters were analyzed with simulation outputs. As a result of the study, it was determined that the building skin system created with the biomimetic approach provides a sustainable solution in terms of energy efficiency.

Biomimicry is an applied science that mainly depends on deriving inspiration from various natural solutions to human problems for making practical applications through the study and examination of natural phenomena, designs, systems, and processes. Historically, designers have dealt with nature as an essential source of innovation and inspiration. In future architecture, biomimicry will be applied to achieve sustainable design. Thus, the paper assumes that biomimicry is an environmental solution for optimizing the thermal performance of office buildings through the building’s skin. The purpose of this paper specifically is to determine and clarify the effective indicators of applying biomimicry to the skins of office buildings in hot climate countries. This will be accomplished by discussing the general concept of biomimicry and its definitions, approaches, and levels. Then, selected examples of biomimetic skin of office buildings in hot climate countries will be shown, analyzed, and compared to determine the most effective biomimetic indicators that will be suggested to be applied to the office building skin. As a result, the effective use of biomimicry as a tool for sustainable design leads to optimizing building thermal performance, optimum thermal comfort for users, and increased productivity for employers in office buildings. Based on indicators, biomimicry as a creative approach to achieving sustainable design will support architects, students, and scholars in achieving sustainable office building design.

The overheating of buildings and their need for mechanical cooling is a growing issue as a result of climate change. The main aim of this paper is to examine the impact of surface texture on heat loss capabilities of concrete panels through evaporative cooling. Organisms maintain their body temperature in very narrow ranges in order to survive, where they employ morphological and behavioral means to complement physiological strategies for adaptation. This research follows a biomimetic approach to develop a design solution. The skin morphology of elephants was identified as a successful example that utilizes evaporative cooling and has, therefore, informed the realization of a textured façade panel. A systematic process has been undertaken to examine the impact of different variables on the cooling ability of the panels, bringing in new morphological considerations for surface texture. The results showed that the morphological variables of assembly and depth of texture have impact on heat loss, and the impact of surface area to volume (SA:V) ratios on heat loss capabilities varies for different surface roughness. This study demonstrates the potential exploitation of morphological adaptation to buildings, that could contribute to them cooling passively and reduce the need for expensive and energy consuming mechanical systems. Furthermore, it suggests areas for further investigation and opens new avenues for novel thermal solutions inspired by nature for the built environment.

Current research, as a part of on-going PhD research, explores the possibilities of dynamic pattern inspired from biomimetic design and presents a structured framework for light to manage strategies. The experiment stresses the improvement of daylight performance through the design and motion of kinetic facades using various integrated software.The impact of kinetic motion of hexagonal pattern was studied by integrating triangle and triangle covering through blooming pyramids on south-facing skin to control the daylight distribution, using a parametric simulation technique. The simulation was carried out for a south oriented façade of an office room in Rome, Italy over three phases. The first optimized results represent the static base case, which were compared to the other two proposed dynamic models in this research. Results demonstrate that dynamic façade achieved a better daylighting performance in comparison to optimized static base case.

No abstract available

The wind-driven aerodynamic noise of super-high-rise building facades not only affects the experience of use inside the building but also reduces the life cycle of building facade materials to some extent. In this paper, we are inspired by the micro-groove structure of shark skin with damping and noise reduction properties and apply bionic skin to reduce the aerodynamic noise impact of super-high-rise buildings. The aerodynamic noise performance of smooth and super-high-rise building models with bionic grooves is simulated via CFD to investigate the noise reduction performance of different bionic groove patterns, such as I-shape, ∪-shape, V-shape, and ∩-shape patterns, and their corresponding acoustic noise reduction mechanisms. This study showed that the bionic shark groove skin has a certain noise reduction effect, and the I-shaped groove has the best noise reduction effect. By applying bionic skin, the aerodynamic noise of super-high-rise buildings can be effectively reduced to improve the use experience and environmental quality of the buildings and provide a new research idea and application direction for the aerodynamic noise reduction design of building facades.

Lightweight porous materials with high load-bearing, damage tolerance and energy absorption (EA) as well as intelligence of shape recovery after material deformation are beneficial and critical for many applications, e.g. aerospace, automobiles, electronics, etc. Cuttlebone produced in the cuttlefish has evolved vertical walls with the optimal corrugation gradient, enabling stress homogenization, significant load bearing, and damage tolerance to protect the organism from high external pressures in the deep sea. This work illustrated that the complex hybrid wave shape in cuttlebone walls, becoming more tortuous from bottom to top, creates a lightweight, load-bearing structure with progressive failure. By mimicking the cuttlebone, a novel bionic hybrid structure (BHS) was proposed, and as a comparison, a regular corrugated structure and a straight wall structure were designed. Three types of designed structures have been successfully manufactured by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) with NiTi powder. The LPBF-processed BHS exhibited a total porosity of 0.042% and a good dimensional accuracy with a peak deviation of 17.4 μm. Microstructural analysis indicated that the LPBF-processed BHS had a strong (001) crystallographic orientation and an average size of 9.85 μm. Mechanical analysis revealed the LPBF-processed BHS could withstand over 25 000 times its weight without significant deformation and had the highest specific EA value (5.32 J·g−1) due to the absence of stress concentration and progressive wall failure during compression. Cyclic compression testing showed that LPBF-processed BHS possessed superior viscoelastic and elasticity energy dissipation capacity. Importantly, the uniform reversible phase transition from martensite to austenite in the walls enables the structure to largely recover its pre-deformation shape when heated (over 99% recovery rate). These design strategies can serve as valuable references for the development of intelligent components that possess high mechanical efficiency and shape memory capabilities.

Algae bio-reactive building envelopes (ABBEs) are self-adaptive shading systems that integrate an algae bioreactor technology to regulate natural lighting and heat in buildings, while also allowing for energy harvest and CO2 capture. In this paper, ABBEs are proposed and supported through experiments and computer simulations. Using experiments, we investigate how the algae bioreactor will self-adjust in response to environmental factors. Through simulations, we analyze how the system, applied to a building in Manhattan, would harvest solar energy, capture CO2, and display environmental data.

In 2020, the United Nations demonstrated that the building sector is responsible for 38% of all energy-related CO2 emissions [1]. Architecture as an invasive practice, bears a responsibility and the capacity to minimize its negative ecological impact. This study investigates alternative methodologies of architectural design that employ the upgrading of greywater through the building envelope to integrate the building in the environment’s metabolic cycles. The building façade may be treated as an active membrane that controls energy and material resources to carry out energy-related functions. Its performance may be modeled by the operational principles of cell membranes and living organisms. The activation of the membrane is achieved by managing greywater resources, while architectural design is informed by biotechnology and environmental engineering. On a different note, water is a vital resource for the sustenance of life whose scarcity increases rapidly. By upgrading greywater, the building membrane becomes a space for different species to inhabit. Considering the above, an interdisciplinary design method is proposed that: • Allows the envelope to circulate water in a controlled manner. • Incorporates the bio-remediation of greywater. • Adapts the envelope to create living “pockets” activated by water. These pockets host vegetation and microorganisms, serving as a probiotic layer that regulates the micro-climate and supports local fauna.

Cacti are of interest for new bio-inspired technologies because of their remarkable adaptations to extreme environments. Recently, they have inspired functional designs from nano fibres to optimised buildings and architectures. We investigate the diversity of cactus skin properties in terms of toughness and resistance to cutting damage. Cacti are well known for their extreme adaptations to harsh environments, with soft, fleshy stems that expand and contract with water uptake and storage. This functioning is made possible by an extendable outer envelope (skin) and a fluted 3-dimensional structure of the stem. We explore the mechanical toughness and underlying structural organisation of the cactus skin in four species of cactus showing different growth forms. The toughness properties of the cactus skin is only one part of a multi-functional structure for surviving in extreme environments. The study suggests that survival involves a relatively “light” investment of tough materials in the outer envelope instead of a rigid “defensive” layer. This is capable of elastic deformation and enables water storage in challenging, arid environments. The main purpose of this article is to demonstrate the diversity of skin toughness and underlying structures in the biological world as providing potential new designs for technical envelopes.

Adaptive facades are considered one of the most prominent interfaces between the exterior and interior of the building. The most advanced approaches in facade design are human-centered, focusing on user needs, making it complex to balance human comfort and energy consumption. This research takes a problem-oriented approach within the biomimetic framework, employing a clustered review methodology to systematically categorize studies, identify solutions, and develop innovative strategies based on cutting-edge research. This paper introduces a novel biomimetic kinetic Beams-Redirected Adaptive Façade (BRAF), inspired by pangolin scales. The triangular panels tilt and shift to control daylight and reduce cooling loads based on solar angle and occupant position. Simulations demonstrate balanced illuminance, negligible glare, and over lighting risks, 60–100% daylight autonomy, and lower cooling loads compared to louvers. The BRAF’s tailored performance across various states and occupant positions surpasses that of an unshaded space. The BRAF’s sun-tracking and occupant-responsive capabilities exemplify an advanced facade design that successfully balances competing objectives. Further refinements in control logic are necessary to enhance user-adaptive performance across diverse climate contexts. Finally, this study integrates two key methodologies—clustered review and BRAF development—interactively and systematically to provide a comprehensive investigation.

The building envelope has an essential role in the energy consumption of buildings and in regulating the energy exchange between the indoor and outdoor environment. Especially in hot climate zones, the temperature increases the cooling loads of the building, while a significant amount of energy is consumed to provide indoor comfort. Much research has been carried out recently to produce responsive and adaptive building envelopes to solve this problem. Nature is a reference for responsive, adaptive building envelope solutions, and the biomimicry approach is utilized. The biomimicry approach suggests using biological models/systems/processes as models/measures/mentors. This research used the biomimicry approach to propose an innovative facade design solution in this context. In this study, where a problem-oriented design approach was accepted, plants were analyzed to find a solution. Plants have evolved to adapt to a particular location's weather, wind, dryness, heat, and light. Buildings, like plants, depend on a specific location. For this reason, arid climate plants were examined in the study. The biological information from analyzing the plants studied was used to develop a design concept. As a result of this study, it is understood that nature has an extensive database and offers many solutions for problems that can be applied in architecture to produce energy-efficient, sustainable, and adaptable designs to indoor and outdoor conditions. The next step for this study is to translate the developed design concept into practice and conduct the necessary analysis

Urban freshwater ecosystems have many critical functions, such as providing water to all living things and supporting biodiversity. Factors such as water pollution, increased water consumption, habitat loss, climate change, and drought threaten the health of urban freshwater ecosystems. Looking for solutions to these challenges, this article aims to recycle water and return it to its life cycle using a climate-sensitive water collection strategy. The model focuses on the biomimetic method as a basic strategy. In this regard, the concept of water-harvesting has been examined in detail by conducting a deep literature review, including architecture and engineering disciplines. With all these data obtained, a synthesis/integration study was carried out by developing a model proposal based on adaptive building façade elements to solve the water problems experienced in cities. The model proposal, which is directly related to the titles of “Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6)” and “Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)”, which are among the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aims to provide different perspectives on the disciplines with its superficial and functional features. In this context, it is anticipated that the article will become an indispensable resource for other researchers working on the subject.

A biomimetic adaptive façade applies natural principles to building design using shading devices that dynamically respond to environmental changes, enhancing daylight, thermal comfort, and energy efficiency. While motorised systems offer precision through sensors and mechanical actuation, they consume energy and are complex. In contrast, passively actuated systems use smart materials that respond to environmental stimuli, offering simpler and more sustainable operation, but often lack responsiveness to dynamic conditions. This study explores a sequential approach by initially developing motorised shading concepts before transitioning to a passive actuation strategy. In the first phase, nine mechanically actuated shading device concepts were designed, inspired by the opening and closing behaviour of plant stomata, and evaluated on structural robustness, actuation efficiency, ease of installation, and visual integration. One concept was selected for further development. In the second phase, a biocomposite made of polylactic acid (PLA) and regenerated cellulose fibres was used for Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) to fabricate 3D-printed modules with passive, moisture-responsive actuation. The modules underwent environmental testing, demonstrating repeatable shape changes in response to heat and moisture. Moisture application increased the range of motion, and heating led to flap closure as water evaporated. Reinforcement and layering strategies were also explored to optimise movement and minimise unwanted deformation, highlighting the material’s potential for sustainable, responsive façade systems.

This study deals with how biomimetic adaptive facade designs can improve energy efficiency by replicating natural tactics. The study intends to create unique facade solutions that overcome both the issues of excessive energy consumption and environmental impact in buildings by analyzing the energy optimization strategies of natural systems. Cases of how biomimetic elements are used realistically include the Shanghai Tower, the Eastgate Center, and the St. Mary Axe Building. Using daylighting and passive natural ventilation techniques, the St. Mary Axe Building can save up to 50% on energy costs compared to traditional office buildings. The Eastgate Centre uses a passive cooling system that reduces dependency on conventional air conditioning, drawing inspiration from termite mounds. With sustainable facade technologies that maximize energy use and control wind loads in a high-rise setting, the Shanghai Tower is an excellent case of vertical urbanization. This study uses case study analysis, physical prototyping, and computer modelling to find essential biomimetic techniques that greatly enhance energy performance, such as ventilative cooling, dynamic insulation, and self- shading. The results offer innovative methods to minimize energy use while improving the quality of life in the built setting by integrating biomimetic adaptive facades into architectural design.

The façade is the main component related to the design, occupation and performance of buildings. In the past, traditional facades were always constructed as load-bearing structural elements without flexibility, which made it impossible to deal with the changing environment, resulting in the consumption of large amounts of energy to maintain the internal comfort conditions. Biomimetic adaptive strategies have been proposed as an optimal solution for improving building façade performance. This paper aims to present biomimetic strategies that are translated into design solutions for dynamic façades, resulting in adaptive, flexible and more efficient façade design. Several illustrated case studies and researches have shown the high potential of biomimetic adaptive facades to reduce total energy consumption without reducing the internal comfort of buildings, which is a promising new approach to energy-efficient and sustainable building solutions.

The aim of our study was to apply a biomimetic approach, inspired by the Ammophila arenaria. This organism possesses a reversible leaf opening and closing mechanism that responds to water and salt stress (hydronastic movement). We adopted a problem-based biomimetic methodology in three stages: (i) two observation studies; (ii) how to abstract and develop a parametric model to simulate the leaf movement; and (iii) experiments with bimetal, a smart material that curls up when heated. We added creases to the bimetal active layer in analogy to the position of bulliform cells. These cells determine the leaf-closing pattern. The experiments demonstrated that creases influence and can change the direction of the bimetal natural movement. Thus, it is possible to replicate the Ammophila arenaria leaf-rolling mechanism in response to temperature variation and solar radiation in the bimetal. In future works, we will be able to propose responsive facade solutions based on these results.

In the present and future, the buildings more qualified and energy saved to their inevitable surroundings has turned into a need and turn into a critical research point. To accomplish total decarbonization inside the buildings is vital to change structures from wasteful vitality consumers into net-zero vitality structures. This paper displays a modeled biomimetic way to deal with encourage the implementation of a shielding form to eco-friendly buildings and improve the advancement of the building structure. The shielding type contributes to consumption of energy thanks to the movement of kinetic cells placed on the outer surface of the building, provides comfort for usage and maintains the thermal balance for residents. Our design can be implemented as a coating material reducing cooling and heating electricity consumption for building facades that we will use in smart cities soon and adapted to self-supporting building types.

The effective use of sustainable renewable energy sources is emphasized heavily in the vision for Oman’s energy industry in 2040 as a crucial tactic in reaching the objective of net-zero buildings. This calls for immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially by improving the efficiency of building facades in metropolitan settings. Biomimicry is a potentially effective approach that utilizes natural phenomena as a source of inspiration to develop novel techniques that mimic diverse creatures, their behaviors, and ecosystems. The goal of this article is to investigate the use of biomimicry in building facades, with an emphasis on improving facade thermal performance in order to reduce energy consumption. It explores the development and application of the Luban capsule, an adaptive biomimetic element, as a workable way to improve buildings’ energy efficiency, especially in warm areas. The study emphasizes two key points: a theoretical review of biomimicry methodologies and a critical evaluation of specific case studies that are well-known for their application of adaptive facades designed to mitigate solar heat gain. The Luban capsule, which has Omani roots, was transformed into a biomimetic element by reinterpreting the five leaves, ten stamens, and five calyxes of the Luban flower to create capsule elements with matching number configurations (5, 10, 5). The Luban capsule was then applied to the service buildings on the campus of the Oman College of Management & Technology (OCMT), adjusting their facades in response to the sun’s position along two axes: behavioral aspects (which mimic the Luban flower’s opening and closing mechanism) and organic form (which incorporates the Luban flower’s natural shape) across facades with various elements, orientations, and functionalities. The study concludes with a framework that aims to minimize the need for artificial lighting, lessen dependency on air conditioning, and mitigate glare in diffused light. These projects play a crucial role in implementing sustainable building practices that are in line with Oman’s long-term energy sector vision by reducing building energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Adaptive façades are designed to actively regulate the exchange of material and energy flows and thus improve the balance between comfort and energy consumption. However, their technical complexity leads to higher development efforts, maintenance and costs, and ultimatelyfewer implementations. Embedded adaptive functions could be an opportunity to reduce these drawbacks. If embedded adaptivity is to work within a design, the particularities of geometry and material arrangements must be considered. Nature offers fascinating models for this approach, which frames the objectives of this doctoral dissertation. The dissertation examines both adaptive façades and biology criteria that support a function-oriented transfer of thermo-adaptive principles in the early design stage. The research work discusses whether the technical complexity can be reduced by biomimetic designs and which role geometric design strategies play for thermo-adaptive processes. The research work is divided into three phases, following the top-down process in the discipline biomimetics, supplemented by methods from product design and semantic databases. The first phase is dedicated to the analysis of the contextual framework and criteria of façades aiming at thermal adaptation. Further, transfer systematics are developed that guide the analysis and selection process. In the second phase, analogies in biology are collected that appear suitable. Selected examples are examined to identify and systematically describe their functional principle. Two exemplary descriptions herald the third phase, in which functional façade models are created and evaluated. The result of this research work provides a conceptual approach to generate function-imitating biomimetic façade designs, so-called physio-mimetic façade designs.

Today, the development of technology has enabled people to develop different perspectives on the environment, nature and objects. As a result, the biomimicry approach, defined as the search for nature-oriented solutions to environmental problems with new design ideas, has become widespread. While examining the biomimicry approach, it is not possible to ignore daylight, which is one of the natural environmental elements. The fact that the building envelope is the first layer that encounters daylight in buildings requires that daylight control parameters be taken into account in its design. In this context, if controlling daylight entering the space is a design problem, this design problem can be solved with the biomimicry approach. In the study, two different biomimetic facade designs were proposed for a glass-fronted office building in order to measure the daylight control performance of biomimetic facades. After the facade proposals were modeled in Grasshopper, their daylight simulations were performed in ClimateStudio. The results obtained were evaluated with the comparison method, and it was observed that the proposed biomimetic facades, unlike the current glass facade, can provide daylight control.

No abstract available

Centralized daylight control has been extensively studied for its ability to optimize useful daylight while mitigating glare in targeted areas. However, this approach lacks a comprehensive visual comfort framework, as it does not simultaneously address spatial glare distribution, uniform high useful daylight levels across all sensor points, and overheating prevention through regulated annual solar exposure. Nevertheless, decentralized control facilitates autonomous operation of the individual façade components, addressing all the objectives. This study integrates a biomimetic functional approach with building performance simulations by computational design to evaluate different kinetic façade configurations. Through the implementation of parametric modeling and daylight analysis, we have identified an optimal angular configuration (60° for the focal region, 50° for the non-focal region) that significantly increases building performance. The optimized design demonstrates substantial improvements, reducing excessive sunlight exposure by 45–55% and glare incidence by 65–72% compared to other dynamic solutions. The recommended steeper angles achieve superior performance, maintaining high useful daylight illuminance (UDI > 91.5%) while dramatically improving visual comfort. Sensitivity analysis indicates that even minor angular adjustments (5–10°) can induce a 10–15% variation in glare performance, emphasizing the necessity of precise control mechanisms in both focal and non-focal regions of the façade. These findings establish a framework for creating responsive building façades that balance daylight provision with occupant comfort in real-time operation.

The design and evaluation of adaptive facades (AFs) have become increasingly complex due to advancements in morphology, control strategies, and adaptability techniques. This study introduces a Novel Kinetic Adaptive Facade (NKAF) incorporating photovoltaic (PV) panels and Plexiglas to enhance daylight and view performance in office buildings. The research focuses on two objectives: (1) the innovative design of the NKAF, and (2) dynamic assessment of its daylight performance using advanced simulation methodologies. Annual daylight simulations, conducted with Radiance and a cutting-edge dynamic-objects workflow, evaluated three adaptability strategies: blocking direct sunlight, tracking solar trajectories, and minimizing facade movement. Results indicate that the fully dynamic sun-blocking logic significantly improved useful daylight illuminance (UDI 100-3000 lux) from 49% to 90%. Additionally, post-processing with NSGA-II multi-objective optimization provided an optimal framework for annual performance, effectively balancing multiple design goals. This novel methodology enables the simulation of dynamic environments and facades, addressing a key gap in previous daylighting research.

The increasing global energy consumption in the building sector highlights an urgent need for energy-efficient design solutions. This study investigates the optimization of residential building envelopes in Bojnord, Iran—a city with a cold and semi-arid climate (BSk), characterized by harsh winters and relatively warm summers. A simulation-based methodology was adopted using parametric modeling and building energy simulation tools to assess envelope performance. Five façade strategies were selected for evaluation based on their climatic relevance, geometric adaptability, and feasibility within common construction limitations: optimized Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR), ventilated double-skin façades (DSF) with air insulation and shading, Voronoi-based shading systems, perforated panels, and variable-porosity façades inspired by traditional Iranian geometry. Adaptive versions of these strategies were also examined. Results indicate that optimizing the WWR to 20% significantly reduces energy consumption, while dynamic façade systems—particularly those with adjustable WWR—offer the highest energy savings, reducing total consumption by approximately 7.73% compared to the baseline model. Conversely, some fixed strategies such as static perforated façades led to increased energy use. The findings provide insights for architects and urban planners into the role of adaptive and climate-responsive envelope systems in achieving energy efficiency and thermal comfort in cold and semi-arid regions. Limitations related to material costs, control complexity, and long-term performance of dynamic systems are also discussed.

As part of the energy transition and climate change adaptation, buildings are increasingly required to interact dynamically with their environment to reduce energy consumption and mitigate environmental impacts. In this context, kinetic shading systems represent a promising solution, particularly those inspired by the adaptive mechanisms of plants responding to environmental stimuli, within a biomimetic design framework. This study follows such an approach by evaluating the performance of a proposed biomimetic kinetic shading system applied to a residential building located in Guelma, Algeria. A dual methodological framework was adopted, combining a problem-driven biomimetic approach with parametric simulation techniques. Three building orientations were assessed across five configurations of the shading system. The findings reveal that the biomimetic kinetic system effectively mitigates solar gains, reducing them by up to 73% during the summer, which results in a 46.6% decrease in cooling energy demand. In the winter, the system enhances solar gains by 16%, leading to a 31.9% reduction in heating requirements. These results underscore the potential of this approach to improve building energy performance while advancing innovative and sustainable passive design strategies. KEYWORDS Biomimicry, energy consumption, optimization, parametric simulation, smart materials, solar gains

No abstract available

No abstract available

In light of pressing global health concerns, the significance of indoor air quality in densely populated structures has been emphasized. This research introduces the Mimosa kinetic façade, an innovative design inspired by the adaptive responsiveness of the Mimosa plant to environmental stimuli. Traditional static architectural façades often hinder natural ventilation, leading to diminished air quality with potential health and cognitive repercussions. The Mimosa kinetic façade addresses these challenges by enhancing effective airflow and facilitating the removal of airborne contaminants. This study evaluates the façade’s impact on quality of life and its aesthetic contribution to architectural beauty, utilizing the biomimicry design spiral for a nature-inspired approach. Computational simulations and physical tests were conducted to assess the ventilation capacities of various façade systems, with a particular focus on settings in Bangkok, Thailand. The study revealed that kinetic façades, especially certain patterns, provided superior ventilation compared to static ones. Some patterns prioritized ventilation, while others optimized human comfort during extended stays. Notably, the most effective patterns of the kinetic façade inspired by the Mimosa demonstrated a high air velocity reaching up to 12 m/s, in contrast to the peak of 2.50 m/s in single-sided façades (traditional façades). This highlights the kinetic façade’s potential to rapidly expel airborne particles from indoor spaces, outperforming traditional façades. The findings underscore the potential of specific kinetic façade patterns in enhancing indoor air quality and human comfort, indicating a promising future for kinetic façades in architectural design. This study aims to achieve an optimal balance between indoor air quality and human comfort, although challenges remain in perfecting this equilibrium.

Thermochromic hydrogels exhibit a smart capacity for regulating solar spectrum transmission, enabling automatically change their transmissivity in response to the ambient temperature change. This has great importance for energy conservation purposes. Military and civilian emergency thermochromic applications require rapid visible-light stealth (VLS); however, concurrent smart solar transmission and rapid VLS is yet to be realized. Inspired by squid-skin, we propose a micropatterned thermochromic hydrogel (MTH) to realize the concurrent control of smart solar transmittance and rapid VLS at all-working temperatures. The MTH possesses two optical regulation mechanisms: optical property regulation and optical scattering, controlled by temperature and pressure, respectively. The introduced surface micropattern strategy can arbitrarily switch between normal and diffuse transmission, and the VLS response time is within 1 s compared with previous ~180 s. The MTH also has a high solar-transmission regulation range of 61%. Further, the MTH preparation method is scalable and cost-effective. This novel regulation mechanism opens a new pathway towards applications with multifunctional optical requirements. Inspired by squid-skin, a micropatterned thermochromic hydrogel to realize the concurrent control of smart solar transmittance and rapid visible-light stealth at all-working temperatures is proposed.

Cephalopods employ their chromomorphic skins for rapid and versatile active camouflage and signalling effects. This is achieved using dense networks of pigmented, muscle-driven chromatophore cells which are neurally stimulated to actuate and affect local skin colouring. This allows cephalopods to adopt numerous dynamic and complex skin patterns, most commonly used to blend into the environment or to communicate with other animals. Our ultimate goal is to create an artificial skin that can mimic such pattern generation techniques, and that could produce a host of novel and compliant devices such as cloaking suits and dynamic illuminated clothing. This paper presents the design, mathematical modelling and analysis of a dynamic biomimetic pattern generation system using bioinspired artificial chromatophores. The artificial skin is made from electroactive dielectric elastomer: a soft, planar-actuating smart material that we show can be effective at mimicking the actuation of biological chromatophores. The proposed system achieves dynamic pattern generation by imposing simple local rules into the artificial chromatophore cells so that they can sense their surroundings in order to manipulate their actuation. By modelling sets of artificial chromatophores in linear arrays of cells, we explore the capability of the system to generate a variety of dynamic pattern types. We show that it is possible to mimic patterning seen in cephalopods, such as the passing cloud display, and other complex dynamic patterning.

Multi‐stage porous aerogels have spurred relentless innovation and surpassed traditional boundaries by redefining the landscape of advanced sound management technologies. Harnessing stress‐responsive tuning properties in aerogels intricately enhances acoustic attenuation. Multi‐stage porosity provides enhanced efficiency across a variety of acoustic environments. In addition to facilitating acoustic attenuation, aerogels demonstrating exceptional flame resistance represent an innovative solution specifically engineered for high‐temperature applications. In this study, a biomimetic multi‐stage porous aerogel, BMPA, is developed created through mild microbial fermentation, resulting in a distinctive internal structure. BMPA enabled the tuning of porosity as high as 93%, with a resulting ultralight density of 0.0518 g cm−3. The uncompressed BMPA material reduced sound levels at 1.5 kHz and, when stretched, further improved attenuation for 2, 2.5, and 3 kHz. Its multistage pore structure lowered noise from 85.7 to 68.7 dB, achieving a total reduction of 17 dB—an impressive advancement in sound management! BMPA treated with inorganic zinc solutions demonstrates significant flame resistance, achieving a V‐0 rating and a limiting oxygen index value exceeding 60%. The groundbreaking development of multi‐stage porous aerogels significantly enhances the potential for next‐generation materials that excel in flame resistance and noise absorption.

Bionic robots have great potential in healthcare, rescue, and surveillance. However, most soft actuators can only realize one or two deformation modes, which largely limit the application in complex environments. This study develops electric/Infrared (IR) light/magnetic multi‐field coupling soft actuators by combining liquid crystal elastomers (LCE), liquid metal (LM) and magnetic Ecoflex (Mecoflex). Originated from the synergistic effect of the differed thermal expansion and the liquid crystal phase transition, the actuator can realize outstanding large deformations (bending angle > 300°) at ultra‐low voltages (1.0 V). In addition, by designing the molecular orientation in the LCE layer and programming the magnetization in the Mecoflex layer, the bending or helical bending deformations can be controlled under electric/magnetic and IR light/magnetic coupling actuation. Based on the complex deformation capability, bionic climbing plants and two kinds of quadrupedal robots are developed. With the structural design of the quadrupedal robots, they can flexibly switch deformations to pass through complex environments by controlling the externally applied coupling fields, which demonstrates their broad potential in practical applications.

In this paper, multiresponsive actuators based on asymmetric design of graphene-conjugated poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) gradient films have been developed by a simple drop casting method. The biomimetic actuation is attributed to the hygroscopic expansion property of PEDOT:PSS and the gradient distribution of graphene sheets within the film, which resembles the hierarchical swelling tissues of some plants in nature. Graphene-conjugated PEDOT:PSS (GCP) actuators exhibit reversible bending behavior under multistimuli such as moisture, organic vapor, electrothermal, and photothermal heating. Noticeably, the bending curvature reaches 2.15 cm-1 under applied voltage as low as 1.5 V owing to the high electrical conductivity of GCP actuator. To mimic the motions of nyctinastic plants, a GCP artificial flower that spreads its petals under sunlight illumination has been fabricated. GCP actuators have been also demonstrated as intelligent light-controlled switches for light-emitting diodes and smart curtains for thermal management. Not only do the GCP gradient films exhibit potential applications in flexible electronics and energy harvesting/storage devices but also the facile fabrication of multiresponsive GCP actuators may shed light on the development of soft robotics, artificial muscles, wearable electronics, and smart sensors.

Miniature soft actuators have garnered attention across healthcare, military, and industrial fields; however, soft actuators mostly have functions and applications in nature‐inspired biomimetic locomotion, without any specific approaches reported for biomedical applications. In biomedical applications, soft actuators must be biodegradable, biocompatible, and visible in vivo. This study presents a multifunctional soft actuator comprising chitosan and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) fabricated via facile casting and laser micromachining. The actuator demonstrates programmable shape morphing and responds swiftly to six stimuli: humidity, chemical solvents, near‐infrared (NIR) light, radio‐frequency (RF) heating, temperature, and magnetic fields. This actuator shows feasibility for biomimetic applications, such as flower, leaf, larva, and finger. Furthermore, the actuator demonstrates magnetic locomotion, real‐time X‐ray visibility, biocompatibility, and biodegradability both in vitro and in vivo. The multistimulus‐responsive shape‐morphing performance of the soft actuator has potential as a wireless miniature robot in various fields, including biomimetic and biomedical applications.

Multi‐stimulus‐responsive actuators demonstrate significant potential in the fields of bionic robots, flexible electronics, and smart sensing. However, their practical applications have been hindered by inadequate environmental stability, limited response modes, and insufficient mechanical durability. This study designs an MXene&PVA/CNT&PVA (MP/CP) bilayer film actuator that achieves high‐performance multi‐field‐coupled actuation through interfacial chemistry modulation and dynamic strain gradient synergy. The actuator demonstrates fast and multimodal responsiveness, achieving a bending deformation of 516° within 0.5 s (with full recovery in 1 s) at 90% relative humidity (RH), reaching an even larger bending angle of 1128° under near‐infrared (NIR) light stimulation (200 mW cm−2), while simultaneously exhibiting distinct sensitivity to polar solvents, and maintains exceptional environmental stability and cycling endurance. Capitalizing on these advantages, the MP/CP film enables precise control of smart switches, adaptive curtain operation, and biomimetic motions such as robotic locomotion and butterfly‐like multimodal flapping through sequential stimulus regulation. This work provides novel insights for developing multifunctional smart actuators, with broad application prospects in adaptive soft robotics and environmental interactive systems.

Hydration‐induced shape‐morphing behavior has been discovered in many natural fiber‐based materials, yet this smart behavior in regenerated fibers from biopolymers lacks investigation. Here, hierarchically structured silk fibers are developed with anisotropic long‐range molecular organization and water‐responsive effects resembling natural spider silk. The regenerated silk fibers exhibit the water‐triggered shape‐memory effect and a water‐driven cyclic response. The reversible hydrogen bonds and transformation in the metastable secondary structure from α‐helices/random coils to β‐sheets are explored as the mechanisms responsible for the water‐responsiveness. The silk fibers obtained possess a tensile strength higher than 104 MPa at a fracture strain of ≈100%, showing noticeable toughness. The water‐responsive silk fibers exhibit a shape recovery rate of ∼83% and generate a maximum actuation stress of up to 18 MPa during the water‐driven cyclic contraction that outperforms most traditional natural textile fibers. The regenerated silk fibers show potential for use in water‐driven actuators, artificial muscle, and smart fabrics based on the integration of suitable mechanical properties and water responsiveness.