Nature has always been a source of inspiration and resources to mankind – from the reproduction of floral motifs to the use of wood – but it has more to offer. Throughout the ages, nature has developed and optimised countless solutions to issues that also man faces daily. There is an amazing playground of smart, simple and sustainable behaviours, just waiting to be explored and learned from.
Industry of Nature describes 75 strategies that nature has developed in response to needs such as protection, strength, aerodynamics, camouflage and more. Included are existing and potential applications of these strategies in the design industry which have been illustrated with many photographs.
Furthermore, interviews with architecture studio AtelierZéroCarbone, biologist Janine M. Benyus, Professor of philosophy Catherine Larrère, designer Mathieu Lehanneur and ethical marketing consultant Hervé Naillon, highlight the ecology issues from different angles. Other features are a chapter on the history of biomimicry, a graphical timeline showing Earth’s developments, a bibliography and an extensive glossary.
The ecology issue has become unavoidable and should be considered a great opportunity to profoundly change our way of thinking and acting. Industry of Nature intends to provide creative professionals with information, inspiration and a tool for augmenting their work, expanding their imaginations and improving the world in which we live.
Although information on ecology and sustainability is published and posted daily, it's obvious that most people feel powerless when faced with the state of our environment today. Materials and technologies claim a dominant position with regard to ecological problems, but we sometimes forget that these may not always be the key to good, comprehensive solutions. The use of materials is only one approach to the larger ecological issue, which clearly has philosophical, metaphysical, economical, and social implications.
The world of nature, on the other hand, is an amazing arena filled with smart models of simple and sustainable behaviors. Nature undeniably questions the pretentiously authoritative status that humans have allocated themselves, and nature is the best example of a wholly sustainable and autonomous industry.
Industry of Nature explains seventy-five of nature's strategies to fulfill needs such as protection, temperature regulation, bonding, air conditioning, self-cleaning, anti-collision, transmission of information, camouflage, and many more. By describing these strategies and adding practical application examples, the book provides creative professionals with inspiration and tools for augmenting their work, expanding their imaginations, and improving the world in which we live. Interviews with various specialists, a chapter covering the history of biomimicry, and a bibliography deepen the subject and provide the reader with handles to further delve into the subject. A profusion of photographs and illustrations brings the ideas and relevant information to life.
Features
- 75 beautiful illustrations were drawn especially for this book by Dépli Design Studio.
- Five specialists shed more light on the subject: AtelierZéroCarbone, Janine Benyus, Catherine Larrère, Mathieu Lehanneur and Hervé Naillon.
- Over 80 photographs and descriptions of designs show successful applications of techniques derived from nature.
- References on every page link to relevant illustrations, photographs and articles on other pages in the book.
- The extensive glossary and bibliography facilitate further research.
