Tech | February 16, 2011 | 16 comments

Michael Pawlyn: Using nature's genius in architecture

source: http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_pawlyn_using_nature_s_genius_in_architecture.html

Vierotchka
How can architects build a new world of sustainable beauty? By learning from nature. At TEDSalon in London, Michael Pawlyn describes three habits of nature that could transform architecture and society: radical resource efficiency, closed loops, and drawing energy from the sun.

Michael Pawlyn takes cues from nature to make new, sustainable architectural environments.
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16 comments // Michael Pawlyn: Using nature's genius in architecture // Video

  • jubal
  • coolplanet
    • +2
      coolplanet  

    • R. Buchminster Fuller put all of these ideas into practice in the mid 20th century.
      Just read his autobiography Critical Path (1980).
      These are not new ideas.
      The problem is money.
      We old hippies are just too poor and content to put this pure genius into practice.
      Great pep talk but everyone seems waiting for big government to do it for us.

    • 1 year ago
  • Vierotchka
  • artemis6
  • Seauvan
    • +2
      Seauvan  

    • These are excellent ideas although I'm skeptical about closed loop-based examples. Closed loop is just another variation of the perpetual motion machine model, an impossibility at present because of the physics of energy loss in all systems. A closed loop-type system was attempted with Biosphere II in Arizona and was an embarrassing practical and PR failure. STILL, this is a great posting and should have everyone thinking about sustainability. Well done, Vierotchka.

    • 1 year ago
  • Vierotchka
  • Seauvan
    • 0
      Seauvan  
    • Vierotchka:

      There is ONLY ONE closed loop, naturally occurring or otherwise, and that is the entire universe itself. Even THAT is subject to debate when some cosmic theories are taken into consideration. Nevertheless, I do agree that alteration by man almost never creates a long-term benefit, particularly since the start of the Industrial Revolution.

    • 1 year ago
  • Aurere
  • Aurere
  • katyids
  • echelgreen
  • echelgreen
  • ejasun
    • +6
      ejasun  
    • Image

    • In 1999 he was one of five winners in ‘A Car-free London’ – an ideas competition for strategic solutions to the capital’s future transport needs and new possibilities for urban spaces.

      In September 2003 he joined an intensive course in nature-inspired design at Schumacher College, run by Amory Lovins and Janine Benyus.

      He has lectured widely on the subject of sustainable design in the UK and abroad and in May 2005 delivered a talk at the Royal Society of Arts with Ray Anderson, CEO of Interface.

      In 2007 Michael Pawlyn delivered a talk at Google’s annual ‘Zeitgeist’ conference and at the Royal Geographical Society’s annual conference ‘Sustainability and Quality of Life’.

      http://www.exploration-architecture.com/page.php?xPage=news.html
      http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/change-makers-michael-pawlyn.html

    • 1 year ago
  • Aurere
  • ze
  • Conniepae
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