The basic look and shape of American houses and business places haven't changed much for a long time. Now, however, energy and environmental challenges are encouraging new building materials, new ways to design buildings, and new respect for nature.
How would Mother Nature design a building?
Through 4 billion years of evolution, organisms have come up with some neat designs. Architects are beginning to look to nature for
clues to building sustainability
Perhaps most famous among biologically informed buildings is the Eastgate shopping center and office building in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The design was inspired by African termite mounds, where termites maintain a constant temperature of 87 degrees (to preserve a fungus
that they cultivate to eat) by opening and closing flues that vent hot air.
The concrete Eastgate building has no air-conditioning system. During the night, big fans draw cool outside air up through spaces
between the building's floors. During the day, smaller fans drive the warmer outside air through the same spaces, where the cool concrete
moderates the temperature. As the air warms, it rises through 48 round brick funnels and out the roof. Fresh air circulates through the
building twice an hour during the day. The building reportedly uses only 10 percent of the energy that a conventional building of the same
size would use.
How about building materials inspired by nature? Architects and engineers are looking at the almost indestructible conch shell.
Based on the text, which conclusion about natural designs is most valid?
1. Designs inspired by nature can help preserve other resources.
02. Designs found in nature are billions of years old.
O 3
Nature is far more sophisticated at design than human beings.
O4
Nature offers some interesting but impractical ideas for design