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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism SynBio-architecture: BioSynth Towers Project

time of major scientific discoveries on the nature of matter regulated irregularities in his curvy buildings to deliver
and the onset of evolutionary theory. Both mitigated the structural diversity that is reminiscent of the natural, living
gap between the human realm and the rest of the natural world (Hundertwasser, 1997). Gaudí and Hundertwasser
world if they revealed that we are made of the same stuff can be regarded as pioneers of diverse architectural
of the surrounding world and intimately akin to plants concepts that draw inspiration from structures found in
and animals. Impressionist painting is one of the artistic living organisms. They even go so far as to emulate some of
expressions of such a change if it attempted to capture and the mechanisms that biological systems employ in response
represent the energy embodied in the material world by to environmental changes (see Figure 3). These styles have
means of effects of light and rough brushstrokes of paint adopted various denominations such as bionic (Yuan et al.,
reflecting the inner dynamism of objects and living things 2017), biomimetic (Aldersey-Williams, 2004; Chayaamor-
(Metcalf, 2004). Heil, 2023), bioinspired (Ripley & Bhushan, 2016), biophilic
Frontline architecture of the time was not alien to these (Soderlund & Newman, 2015) and others. Yet, note that
developments, as epitomized by the above-mentioned the interplay of architecture-biology at this point is that of
Antonio Gaudí (1852–1926). He went beyond the prevailing echoing living structures in buildings which are made in
modernist tendencies of his generation to create a distinct any case of standard, hard construction materials. But is
style in which shapes of naturally-occurring living forms such structural inspiration enough?
were incorporated into his buildings, not just as decorations, 5. Biologicals as active building
but as core architectural elements (Huerta, 2006). His
approach resulted in a type of designs dominated not by components
straight lines and circles but by hyperbolic paraboloids, The next step in the way to biologization of architecture
hyperboloids, helicoids, and conoids (Figure 3). Such type involves the progressive incorporation of materials coming
of nature-inspired organic architecture was largely based from the living world to building design. The traditional
on the adoption of string-and-weight models (Figure 2) use of wood as the key component of many structures is
which enabled an easy solution to complex multi-objective now complemented by utilization of other biological goods
optimization challenges (Makert & Alves, 2016) through endowed with useful properties. One low-hanging fruit
an approach reminiscent of adaptive biological evolution in this respect is the use of fungal mycelia as insulation
(Porcar et al., 2015). Such tendency–which tries to leave material (Attias et al., 2020). These microorganisms
behind the conventional straight line-based architecture incorporate vegetal particles into their hyphal network,
has a more recent example in the work of Friedensreich producing composite materials useful to this end. The
Hundertwasser (1928–2000) and his utilization of non- biomass of filamentous fungi often acts as nucleation
sites for biomineralization of calcium carbonate, further
expanding the usability of mycelium composites as
A B structural materials. Furthermore, mushroom-forming
fungi generate hyphae rich in cellulose and lignin together,
conferring high rigidity to the overall interconnected
structure and mechanically strong enough as structural
components at the architectural scale. Mycelium-based
blocks are already available as an alternative to plastic-
based insulation materials and building assets, for instance,
C D
bricks. Note however that such items of fungal origin are
typically inactivated with heat or other methods before
use and, therefore, the qualities of interest are limited to
their physical properties. Given that such properties are
ultimately determined by DNA, perspectives are that fungi
can be improved and leveraged beyond their material
qualities for endowing biological functionalities to the
Figure 3. Non-geometrical architecture. Many of the works of Antonio architectural designs they join–alone or in combination
Gaudí (A and B) and Friedensreich Hundertwasser (C and D) avoid with other microorganisms (Jo et al., 2023). In particular,
straight lines and perfect geometrical forms as much as possible for the for generation of, for example, living architectural skins
sake of bridging the technical and conceptual gaps between naturally
occurring shapes and human-made buildings. Note in (c) even adoption (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
of wavy floors for making inhabitants aware that they are stepping on Medicine, 2017; Armstrong, 2023; Persiani & Battisti,
Earth. Photo credits: Casa Pedrera (Barcelona) and Kunsthaus (Vienna) 2019) for bioremediation (Shavandi & Jalalvandi, 2019) of

Volume 5 Issue 3 (2023) 5 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.0619