The Role of Biomimicry in Interior Architecture Education and Structural Forms

Abstract

Biomimicry is an approach that aims to develop man-made systems by imitating the design principles and processes of nature. The application of biomimicry in interior architecture education allows students to develop creative thinking skills and create sustainable design solutions. This approach aims to integrate the aesthetically and functionally inspiring features of natural systems into interior design. In this context, the study examines the course content applied within the scope of Structural Knowledge, which is a compulsory course in the 3rd semester curriculum of Selçuk University Faculty of Architecture and Design, Department of Interior Architecture. Within the scope of the course, information about the structural system elements of the building, columns, beams, slabs, foundations, and the contribution of the biomimicry design approach to the design process, the structural system and the stages of shell formation are examined. The aim of the study is for students to use the principles of biomimicry to analyze the structural characteristics of structures and organisms in nature and to outline the design process in their own projects. The concept of biomimicry contributes to the development of innovative and sustainable structural forms in interior architecture education, helping them to adopt a design approach in harmony with nature. Within the scope of the study, 2nd year interior architecture students were asked to create a shell and carrier system for the interior architecture projects they worked on in the project studio within the scope of the Structural Knowledge course. As a result of the study, different shell formations and the effect of nature on the design process were emphasized. This study is expected to provide an example of the effect of the concept of biomimicry on the design process and contribute to the literature.