Petra Gruber | EiABC - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Petra Gruber
What is the Architect Doing in the Jungle? Biornametics, 2013
Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering, 2011
... in the notion of a necessity to push industrial developments towards a sustainable future.Bio... more ... in the notion of a necessity to push industrial developments towards a sustainable future.Biomimicry principles are used as guidelines and evaluation parameters for the innovation process [23]. BioTriz is a general biomimetics-based innovation tool, set up by a group of ...
Biomimetics--Materials, …, Jan 1, 2011
This introductory chapter contains a short discussion of the topic of biomimetics with special em... more This introductory chapter contains a short discussion of the topic of biomimetics with special emphasis on background and goals together with an overview of the book. Biomimetics is described as information transfer from biology to the engineering sciences. Methods and preconditions for this interdisciplinary scientific subject are mentioned briefly focusing on the educational issues and the pathway to product development. To provide the reader with a preliminary information, an overview of the book is given devoted to a brief description of the remaining chapters which are allocated to three main sections "
Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 2008
Engineers, designers and architects often look to nature for inspiration. The research on 'natura... more Engineers, designers and architects often look to nature for inspiration. The research on 'natural constructions' is aiming at innovation and the improvement of architectural quality. The introduction of life sciences terminology in the context of architecture delivers new perspectives towards innovation in architecture and design. The investigation is focused on the analogies between nature and architecture. Apart from other principles that are found in living nature, an interpretation of the so-called 'signs of life', which characterize living systems, in architecture is presented. Selected architectural projects that have applied specific characteristics of life, whether on purpose or not, will show the state of development in this field and open up future challenges. The survey will include famous built architecture as well as students' design programs, which were carried out under supervision of the author at the
Acta Astronautica, 2007
This paper discusses the architectural design project "Transformation Structure Space", which was... more This paper discusses the architectural design project "Transformation Structure Space", which was carried out at the Department of Building Construction HB2 in 2004. The goal of the study was to find innovative solutions for space system design through the application of bionic (biomimetic) approaches. Using specific research both fields as the foundation, five different architectural projects based on a scientific-technological concept were developed. The introduction of natural role models into the design process and the development of the application in space and the respective setting proved to be a difficult task within the timeframe of a design program, nonetheless all of the projects show very innovative aspects.
Biomimetics is a field that has the potential to drive major technical advances. It might substan... more Biomimetics is a field that has the potential to drive major technical advances. It might substantially support successful mastering of major global challenges. In the first part of the article, the current state of biomimetics is reviewed, and goals and visions of biomimetics are presented. Subsequently, possible biomimetic scenarios to overcome the major global challenges, as indicated by the Millennium Project, are envisaged.
Acta Astronautica, 2007
The study Lunar exploration architecture-deployable structures for a lunar base was performed wit... more The study Lunar exploration architecture-deployable structures for a lunar base was performed within the Alcatel Alenia Space "Lunar Exploration Architecture" study for the European Space Agency. The purpose of the study was to investigate bionic concepts applicable to deployable structures and to interpret the findings for possible implementation concepts. The study aimed at finding innovative solutions for deployment possibilities. Translating folding/unfolding principles from nature, candidate geometries were developed and researched using models, drawings and visualisations. The use of materials, joints between structural elements and construction details were investigated for these conceptual approaches. Reference scenarios were used to identify the technical and environmental conditions, which served as design drivers. Mechanical issues and the investigation of deployment processes narrowed the selection down to six chosen concepts. Their applicability was evaluated at a conceptual stage in relation to the timescale of the mission.
Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 2012
Architecture and construction are highly interdisciplinary fields, integrating many professions a... more Architecture and construction are highly interdisciplinary fields, integrating many professions and many disciplines on different levels of scale and complexity. Studies of natural systems have at all times been inspirational for design. Investigating the overlaps between biology and architecture we find that a biological paradigm inspires the current frontier of research and innovation in many sectors. Using biology's categories to analyse the field we discover many 'signs of life' in architecture projects, and many researchers are actively involved with way ways to implement more and more aspects of life into buildings without calling themselves biomimeticists. Meanwhile the architectural landscape has adopted biomimetics, bionics, biologically inspired design or biomimicry as valid strategies. However, it still lacks a showcase of innovative products or real breakthrough in the form of a 'really biomimetic building'. This implies the interpretation of biomimetics as an architectural style, defining the entirety of a building, best reflected in the overall form.
What is the Architect Doing in the Jungle? Biornametics, 2013
Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering, 2011
... in the notion of a necessity to push industrial developments towards a sustainable future.Bio... more ... in the notion of a necessity to push industrial developments towards a sustainable future.Biomimicry principles are used as guidelines and evaluation parameters for the innovation process [23]. BioTriz is a general biomimetics-based innovation tool, set up by a group of ...
Biomimetics--Materials, …, Jan 1, 2011
This introductory chapter contains a short discussion of the topic of biomimetics with special em... more This introductory chapter contains a short discussion of the topic of biomimetics with special emphasis on background and goals together with an overview of the book. Biomimetics is described as information transfer from biology to the engineering sciences. Methods and preconditions for this interdisciplinary scientific subject are mentioned briefly focusing on the educational issues and the pathway to product development. To provide the reader with a preliminary information, an overview of the book is given devoted to a brief description of the remaining chapters which are allocated to three main sections "
Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 2008
Engineers, designers and architects often look to nature for inspiration. The research on 'natura... more Engineers, designers and architects often look to nature for inspiration. The research on 'natural constructions' is aiming at innovation and the improvement of architectural quality. The introduction of life sciences terminology in the context of architecture delivers new perspectives towards innovation in architecture and design. The investigation is focused on the analogies between nature and architecture. Apart from other principles that are found in living nature, an interpretation of the so-called 'signs of life', which characterize living systems, in architecture is presented. Selected architectural projects that have applied specific characteristics of life, whether on purpose or not, will show the state of development in this field and open up future challenges. The survey will include famous built architecture as well as students' design programs, which were carried out under supervision of the author at the
Acta Astronautica, 2007
This paper discusses the architectural design project "Transformation Structure Space", which was... more This paper discusses the architectural design project "Transformation Structure Space", which was carried out at the Department of Building Construction HB2 in 2004. The goal of the study was to find innovative solutions for space system design through the application of bionic (biomimetic) approaches. Using specific research both fields as the foundation, five different architectural projects based on a scientific-technological concept were developed. The introduction of natural role models into the design process and the development of the application in space and the respective setting proved to be a difficult task within the timeframe of a design program, nonetheless all of the projects show very innovative aspects.
Biomimetics is a field that has the potential to drive major technical advances. It might substan... more Biomimetics is a field that has the potential to drive major technical advances. It might substantially support successful mastering of major global challenges. In the first part of the article, the current state of biomimetics is reviewed, and goals and visions of biomimetics are presented. Subsequently, possible biomimetic scenarios to overcome the major global challenges, as indicated by the Millennium Project, are envisaged.
Acta Astronautica, 2007
The study Lunar exploration architecture-deployable structures for a lunar base was performed wit... more The study Lunar exploration architecture-deployable structures for a lunar base was performed within the Alcatel Alenia Space "Lunar Exploration Architecture" study for the European Space Agency. The purpose of the study was to investigate bionic concepts applicable to deployable structures and to interpret the findings for possible implementation concepts. The study aimed at finding innovative solutions for deployment possibilities. Translating folding/unfolding principles from nature, candidate geometries were developed and researched using models, drawings and visualisations. The use of materials, joints between structural elements and construction details were investigated for these conceptual approaches. Reference scenarios were used to identify the technical and environmental conditions, which served as design drivers. Mechanical issues and the investigation of deployment processes narrowed the selection down to six chosen concepts. Their applicability was evaluated at a conceptual stage in relation to the timescale of the mission.
Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, 2012
Architecture and construction are highly interdisciplinary fields, integrating many professions a... more Architecture and construction are highly interdisciplinary fields, integrating many professions and many disciplines on different levels of scale and complexity. Studies of natural systems have at all times been inspirational for design. Investigating the overlaps between biology and architecture we find that a biological paradigm inspires the current frontier of research and innovation in many sectors. Using biology's categories to analyse the field we discover many 'signs of life' in architecture projects, and many researchers are actively involved with way ways to implement more and more aspects of life into buildings without calling themselves biomimeticists. Meanwhile the architectural landscape has adopted biomimetics, bionics, biologically inspired design or biomimicry as valid strategies. However, it still lacks a showcase of innovative products or real breakthrough in the form of a 'really biomimetic building'. This implies the interpretation of biomimetics as an architectural style, defining the entirety of a building, best reflected in the overall form.