ABSTRACT

Bio-Architecture studies the natural principles of animal and human constructions from several different perspectives, and presents a great part of the knowledge that gives origin and shape to built form.

Organic architecture offers a design approach arising from natural principles, bringing us back to local history, tradition, and cultural roots to give us built forms which are in harmony with nature. It also shows how architects can take advantage of the resources that contemporary technology has placed within our grasp.

Bio-Architecture is a unique book that studies the natural principles of animal and human constructions from several different perspectives and looks at what gives origin and shape to built form. The text gives an informative, inspiring overview of the drive toward organically informed design both intrinsically and aesthetically using a wide variety of international examples.

Javier Senosiain is an architect and an historian. He has pursued his interest in Organic Architecture across the globe drawing parallels between Buckminster Fuller's Geodesic dome and the spider's web; between Santiago Calatrava's Cathedral of St John in NY and the roots of a tree. Where nature has inspired form, Senosiain has made a career of analyzing and applying the principles he sees in some very creative writing and architecture.

part 1|58 pages

Nature: Our Inspiration

chapter |6 pages

Function in nature

chapter |10 pages

Space in nature

chapter |20 pages

Structure in nature

chapter |2 pages

Shape in nature

chapter |12 pages

The snail

part 2|42 pages

Humanity: Our Space Through the Ages

chapter |17 pages

Vernacular architecture

chapter |12 pages

Arches, vaults and domes

chapter |12 pages

The modern city

part 3|58 pages

The Organic: Our Natural Space

chapter |26 pages

Organic architecture

chapter |10 pages

The search for space

chapter |20 pages

The organic habitat

chapter |2 pages

Epilogue