DESIGNING WITH NATURE

GANGAWAN, LEO O. & VARANAL, JHOEMEL S.

 NATURE
• Nature is an emotional element within the surrounding
environment and is an important aspect to deal with everyday
affecting everything around human. Human always communicates
with nature; since starting to build shelters and using them, nature
has been used as an important and basic part in the plans and
designs
• Human being noticed the advantages of communicating with nature
as;
– Health
– Less stress
– Sickness
“Nature and natural processes are
the guiding principles or the main
metaphors of the design approach.
“
– Frank Lloyd Wright
 DEFINITION OF ARCHITECTURE
ENVIRONMENTAL METPAHOR
it has been defined as direct comparison between two
or more seemingly unrelated subjects
• “transformation process from abstracts into material
or visual image” - Christine Wonoseputro
• “imaginative rationality”; appropriate tools for
solving problems since they unite rationality and
imagination - Nezih Ayiran
 TYPES AND SOURCES OF METAPHORS

TYPES SOURCES
• DIRECT METAPHOR • LITERATURE
• INDIRECT METAPHOR • RELIGIOUS
• ENVIRONMENT
• ART
• MANMADE
ARCHITECTURE METAPHOR SKETCH
ANCIENT It is one of the most powerful an
EGYPTIAN lasting architecture. It is based on
ARCHITECTURE the column, capital, cornice, pylon,
obelisk and stone structure.
Egyptian architecture reflects a
religious society that sees the world
in repeating cycles, floods of the
Nile, changing seasons, life and
death

ISLAMC The design is dynamic and

ARCHITECTURE characterized by continuity which is
the same attributes of metaphor. It
is also influenced by natural World.
ARCHITECTURE METAPHOR SKETCH
VERNACULAR It is architecture of traditions built
ARCHITECTURE by human experiences and not with
architects. It is a functional
architecture Influenced by the
surrounding nature and
environment; it satisfies human
needs and differs from one culture
to another

MODERN It is inspired from sculptured

ARCHITECTURE forms and living organisms. There is
a unity and harmony in design with
nature and human. The design
becomes familiar with human in its
different elements. It is an organic
design away from sharp edges and
geometry and based on
functionality. Some concepts are in
advance with technology
ARCHITECTURE METAPHOR SKETCH
POSTMODERN The postmodern architects
ARCHITECTURE search for new design language.
Their innovative designs and
forms are creative. Complexity
becomes the ornament and
discards the history in design.
New technology is basic during
the design process. Architects
reject the principle of
international styles such as:
pure form, form follows
function; they mix symbolic
images with their designs that
are difficult to read
Architects and metaphor

ZAHA HADID The building is influenced by the sand dunes in the exterior and
“GUANGZHOU interior as it is located in the desert and using the waves in the
OPERA” interior to show the rhythm of music inside

NORMAN The building form is sculptured and influenced by the tree

FOSTER structure in its exterior and interior contributing it with the
“MASDAR culture and is functioned to be used as a ventilating and source of
light element
HEADQUARTER
Architects and metaphor
FRANK GEHRY The masses of the building is inspired from the sea waves, while
“WALT DISNEY the steel cladding of the building's exterior is inspired from the
CONCERT HALL” fish peel. The design of the main hall shows the struggle in sea
waves, also the plan for the music hall is inspired from the shape
of the fish. Using different inspirations from nature lead the
building to achieve integration between the building and the
surrounding environment
APPLICATION OF NATURE IN
ARCHITECTURE
 ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
- promotes harmony between human
habitation and the natural world
 ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
BIOMORPHIC ARCHITECTURE - is the design of building directly
influenced by the animal, vegetal, human body, and anatomical structure with
chosen materials to create aesthetic harmony
 ACHITECTURAL STYLE
BIOMIMETIC ARCHITECTURE - is a contemporary philosophy
of architecture that seeks solutions for sustainability in nature, not by
replicating the natural forms, but by understanding the rules governing those
forms.
Green Building Code
Resulted extreme weather
conditions
 RA 9729 - “Climate Change Act of 2009”
AN ACT MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE INTO
GOVERNMENT POLICY FORMULATIONS, ESTABLISHING
THE FRAMEWORK STRATEGY AND PROGRAM ON
CLIMATE CHANGE, CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE
CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Green Building
practice of increasing efficiency with which buildings use resources
such as energy, water and materials while also reducing the
buildings’ impact on human health and the environment
 Objectives of Green Building Code:
• 1. Improve efficiency of building performance
through set of standards
• 2. Counter harmful gases responsible for effects of
climate change
• 3. Efficient use of resources, site, design,
construction, maintenance
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
• Energy Efficiency
• Water Efficiency
• Material Sustainability
• Solid Waste Management
• Site Sustainability
• Indoor Environmental Quality
1. ENERGY EFFICIENCY

is the adoption of efficient practices,

designs, methods and technologies with
the goal of reducing energy consumption
that will result in savings without
compromising safety, health and product
quality.
2. WATER EFFICIENCY
is the adoption of efficient water-use
practices, designs, method and
technologies with the goal of reducing
water consumption that will result in
savings.

a. Efficient Water Fixtures

b. Water Management
3. MATERIAL SUSTAINABILITY
is the adoption of products that require
less use of natural resources and less
energy/fuel requirements and at the
same time, increase the reusability of
such materials and products for the
same or similar purpose, thereby
providing least impact on environment.
4. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Philippine Green Building Code Efficient waste

management & use of ecofriendly materials; supports
the principles of RA 9003 or the Solid Waste
Management Act.

The new 5 R's cycle approach:

a. Reduce
b. Reuse
c. Recycle
d. Recover
e. Reprocess
Material recovery facility (MRF) - is a solid waste
management facility that provides for the extraction
from solid waste of recyclable materials suitable for use
as a fuel or soil amendment or combination
5. SITE SUSTAINABILITY
Requires the adoption of planning, design,
construction & operation practices that
minimize negative impact of buildings on
ecosystems and water resource.

a. Site / ground preparation and earthworks

to reduce
b. Open space utilization
6. INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY
Requires adoption of efficient design &
operation practices that considers
building environment to improve
occupant health, productivity and safety.

a. Minimum fresh air rates

b. Designated Smoking areas