Essay

Presenting Nature Like Never Before

The relationship between built form and nature is a varied one. In certain designs, the architecture simply engages with nature, while other environments harmonize with nature. Then, there are those designers who are inspired by nature, as they pull from the depths of its many design lessons to incorporate them into their projects. And ultimately, there are those designs that actually innovate experience by presenting nature in a way never experienced before.

Truly extraordinary architectural moments can occur when a built form can present nature completely anew to occupants through their senses. Just imagine if the wind had a presence within how a building’s architectural language moved. Within such a design project, the wind would not only be a natural element that built form must protect occupants against, but it would also be a natural element that built form could use to generate its own forms to serve occupants. In other words, natural elements like wind, sunlight and rain become the mediums by which a built form can compose experience.

Three Questions to Re-Interpret Nature through Architecture

Nature in design is not only about protection, inspiration, and harmonization – it is also about composition. As you design, be sure to explore how nature can be re-interpreted through architectural materials. This will help your design to reach greater functionality, aesthetics and even meaning. To do this, you may ask yourself the following questions:

• What can this natural element (wind, sunlight, temperature, rain, etc) do to expand the functionality, aesthetics and meaning of this environment?

• How can this natural element be re-interpreted so occupants experience it in a totally new way?

• What will this architectural re-interpretation of a natural element teach occupants about their surroundings, about themselves, or about each other?

Your “Nature in Design” Mindset Shift

The mindset shift of seeing nature as a design medium can unlock very interesting architectural design ideas for extraordinary occupant experiences. Nature is more than an inspiration or an element that building’s must protect occupants and themselves against. Yes, nature in design means that you as a architect can push a natural element – with all of its transient qualities – to not only inform your design approach or shape your design outcome, but to actually push it through the system which is your architecture.

After all, wind that travels through the architectural language that is your building system, can create some very unique and amazing results.

‍Image Credit: © full moon | Fotolia