Biomorphic Structures: Architecture Inspired by Nature

This short, accessible overview of the emulation of natural forms in contemporary architecture and design practices is part of the publisher’s Form + Technique series of attractively illustrated handbooks on key architectural and design concepts aimed at students. Agkathidis, a professor of digital design at the Liverpool School of Architecture, historically situates biomorphism in the work of several architects, including Buckminster Fuller, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Santiago Calatrava, whose designs were inspired by forms and patterns found in nature. However the focus of the book is on contemporary techniques, such as 3-D printing, generative algorithms, and contour crafting, which Agkathidis explores through 13 case studies. He draws out a fascinating range of examples, including a spa set among hillsides whose form is inspired by natural patterns of erosion, a composite wall fabrication inspired by snakeskin, and a hotel canopy that “not only mimics the appearance of tree branches, but also implements their structural capabilities.” This is a wild glimpse into the synthesizing of nature and technology in architectural practice. Color photos. (Jan.)