Written by Christa Holden

I thought we would explore some ideas about crossing disciplines to better understand the world as a whole. As we already know, architecture plays a major roll in our lives. It impacts our health and the climate of our planet. The ideas behind Bioarchitecture look to balance and uplift our lives through better understanding of the biological world that we live in and the role that we play in (and with) that world. Bioarchitecture is a combination of sustainable design and biophilia – It engages both disciplines to inspire better architecture.

bioarchitecture. Noun. (plural bioarchitectures)
The design and construction of buildings in an ecologically-friendly manner. The design and construction of buildings that reflect structures found in nature.

Below are a few quotes and related links to explore these ideas further. Enjoy!
“As nature uses shape to hold charge or life force, it makes complete sense to use nature’s shapes and proportions for the shape of our spaces and buildings. In terms of architecture and design of space, I believe that by creating spaces that are based on the pure principles of natural design we provide a sacred environment that can nurture our bodies, minds and spirits. We can literally design to raise the vibration of the inhabitants. We can use our quantum consciousness to create the space, and to clear it of any stresses that do not serve life.” – Michael Rice
The concept of architecture being inspired by biology isn’t new, whether that’s the ancient Greeks and Romans incorporating leaf motifs into the friezes of their structures, the entire Art Nouveau movement, or Frank Lloyd Wright’s obsession with softening (or erasing) the divide between his buildings and their landscapes. David Benjamin, the founding principal of The Living, a New York–based design firm, writes in the new book Now We See Now: Architecture and Research by The Living ($40, Monacelli Press):
“This history, however, is largely a conceptual one, drawing on the metaphors, knowledge structures, and imagery of biology but rarely engaging the actual research protocols of biology or understanding buildings as living biological objects,” – David Benjamin
The publication presents the firm’s projects and research that investigate how biological processes can be used in generative, or software-guided, design.

Additional links for further reading:

Placecraft provides alternative construction and is located right here in our neighborhood. If you have an idea for a project and are looking for a builder, we recommend reaching out to them!