ABSTRACT
Returning to the common concern of bringing light to the human visual system in buildings, biomimicry can offer a plethora of solutions. A building’s skin acts as armour, as the moderator of light, and sometimes skin can also be structure. It is often organisms that live in the lowest light conditions that demonstrate the most interesting adaptations, and provide inspiration for architecture. The iridescence comes from cells called iridocytes, which reflect non-useful wavelengths of light and accurately distribute the useful light onto vertically arranged columns of microalgae. The glazing system optimised light transmission and minimised heat transfer by using transparent insulation above and below those parts of the window needed to provide views out. Light, air and private outside space are crucial human requirements in high-density housing design and it could be that biology’s equivalent solutions could inspire very valuable innovations. Turning to how nature creates light and colour, the irrepressible glass sponge features again, in reliably spectacular form.
