Green2 is a new polish architecture and design magazine focused on sustainability. Their second issue is on biomimetic design and Michal Piasecki was asked to write an article on computational means of introducing biomimetics into the design process.

The article begins with the discussion of Andrew Kudless’ P-Wall project. An inquiry which seems to be deeply rooted in Frei Otto’s research on material computation. Michal further argus that biomimetics is about mimicking natural processes of formation, rather then natural forms themselves and that simulation of evolution and the process of learning falls into this category as well. The discussion of evolutionary algorithms starts with Karl Sims’ early experiments on breeding three-dimensional forms expressing certain types of behaviors.

A discussion follows of William Latham’s and Stephen Todd’s proposal of using evolution not as an optimization tool, but as a tool with which artists and practitioners from other fields could breed potential solutions to the problems they deal with, based on some not explicitly defined criteria. An idea which proved to be a great inspiration for my PhD research topic.

Finally three architecture and design examples are there: Rogers, Stirk, Mabour and Partners collaboration with Expedition Engineering on The canopy in of a metro station in Naples. Sean Hanna’s and dr. Sivash S. Mahdavi’s research into optimization of the “SLS microstructure” and Morphogenetic Experiment 2 by Achim Menges and MiT’s Emergent Design Group: