CAN THE NATURE OF BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION PROCESS BE ADDRESSED IN ARCHITECTURE?

Abstract

The wide variety of forms found in nature results from the biological evolution process. It has always inspired numerous researchers in various disciplines to mimic them. Architecture as a discipline has also gone down this way to create a design method modeled after the process. This design method mirrors the evolution process of generating the infinite variety of natural forms. Thus similar process is used to generate a wider range of architectural forms that can build up the vocabulary of design forms. This paper seeks to question whether such design process has appropriately interpreted the nature of the biological evolution. This exploration is done through an architect, Greg Lynn who is also actively engaged in similar design processes. Thus by knowing his objectives and understanding of biological evolution process, one can see that his focus is on the pursuit of the significant ‘differences’ of each design variation. However a deeper probe into his design project reveals a limitation in the design variations. As it turns out, this limitation is due to the nature of the design method that he follows. Lastly, a further discussion ignites a general rethinking about how the nature of biological evolution process can be addressed in the field of architecture.