Al Kennedy - MCAD Biomimetic Design Course

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Be, Contemplate, Imagine. #05

Assignment 4.1a Al Kennedy - BCI - Ideas from Nature

  For this BCI session I had the opportunity to change my place and therefore perspective. The spot this week happened to be in a Wilderness Wood - a glorious 65 acre woodland in East Sussex; where I was camping out with some friends and introducing them to the wonders of Biomimicry thinking and helping them to reconnect with Nature. 

Being under canvas and living outside for 24 hours really enhances all your senses and appreciation of your immediate environment. I found that the experience of being in the wood - made me become very aware of time, I sensed that the landscape held many reminders of time all around me. Trees immediately communicate a sense of timescale - due to their presence and scale. 

The ‘layers’ of a wood became very apparent to me and I felt a real sense of how each plant, tree or organism had to find its way amongst this greater system. I was always looking upwards toward the light and the wood felt much more like a closed and contained system than my previous spot, which was more open to the elements. The wood felt more protected but with a more diverse and rich environment.

Most obvious and visual are the strategies that plants use to seek out nutrients and sunlight amongst the canopy. The need to grow straight and tall or use other plants to support themselves, or indeed spread on the ground and feed off the nutrients rich in the soil layers. The fertile soil supports a rich diversity and the forest vegetation provides basis of the ‘food web’ amongst those layers. The ground layer being mosses, lichen, fungi and seeds, then you have herb layer, then shrub layer or mid canopy; followed by the tall tree canopy.

My thinking in terms of designing a product or service relates to the use of cooperative networks and shared resources - as in the layers of the wood. Taking inspiration from the fungi that use arbuscules or microscopic structures connected to a widespread network to distribute nutrients.

A multi layered approach... identifying ‘keystone’ service points or hubs (as in large trees) within a system - and creating a self maintaining ecosystem enabling everybody to feed sufficiently.

This ‘product or service’ could be local network that helps people communicate or share resources easily and efficiently - a ‘hub’ perhaps that is informed by many duplicate connections. A more specific use could be in the exchange of information across a community - such as looking after children or the older generation. 

However in this case I will follow the food system theme - as witnessed in the wood. The new service could utilise existing infrastructure to ‘piggyback’ on the top off to share local food resource information. Ideas could involve mobile phone handsets to track local data, traffic, local food produce and deliveries between suppliers, traders, growers and markets or caterers.

Idea: FOODWEB

A local network to enable the sustainable production and delivery of food within a community - sharing live information on who has grown/produced what food and who can share the transport to deliver it within the network. Ensuring no waste and optimisation of local food web. Providing easy exchange, a mutual beneficial interdependence amongst all partners and sharing of resources - ultimately enabling a more stable local food economy.

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Be, Contemplate, Imagine. #04

Assignment 3.2 Al Kennedy - BCI - Observing Nature's Design Principles.

  Looking to observe how many of Life’s Principles, can be identified at my BCI natural spot - to satisfy Earth’s operating conditions as listed below.

EARTH’S OPERATING CONDITIONS:

• Sunlight, water, and gravity

• Dynamic non-equilibrium

• Limits and boundaries

• Cyclic processes 

One of the first things I notice again at my BCI place is the interconnectedness of the plants and wildlife around me; from the plants, birds and insects – they are all existing and coexisting with one another - as a system. 

  There appears to be no hierarchy which makes it hard to define how the system works. However there is definitely an INTERDEPENDENCE at work - a connection of the systems within systems, within systems that are now evident to me as I revisit my BCI. 

  This moorland landscape has had to EVOLVE TO SURVIVE through time to manage and ADAPT TO CHANGING CONDITIONS. Conditions such as variable weather impacts, flooding, farming impact and the human interventions over time.

The sheer breadth of plantlife and how these plants function and demonstrate RESOURCEFULNESS to survive becomes more obvious - the willow trees grow in lines along the Rhyne (water drainage ditches) to draw more water alongside reeds and taller grasses; where the lower scrub is abundant on more flat marshy fields. The willows also grow and are adapted to build very flexibly to manage, without breaking, against the strong winds that gust over this flat landscape.

There is also evidence of using USE LIFE-FRIENDLY CHEMISTRY within the water ways. Not only do these rivers provide homes and shelter for Swans, Ducks Otter and Mink etc. for their homes but also protein rich food sources, grown in the nutrient surroundings of the peat beds. 

A good example is the thick shelled river mussel which creates hard shelled exterior within the river beds.

All of these embedded cyclical systems and processes also rely on a larger system to provide energy - which comes from the sun. The evidence of this particular environment to BE LOCALLY ATTUNED AND RESPONSIVE is clear in the consistency of the landscape. 

Individual examples of how to be BE RESOURCE (MATERIAL AND ENERGY) EFFICIENT are demonstrated by the dandelion head - which disperses its seeds via a very functional design taking advantage of the free wind source to distribute its seeds for future growth and survival.

The diversity and interdependence is something that has become very evident for me - as I explore this landscape further. The understanding that everything is connected and that the biodiversity is vital to a healthy and sustainable system.

[biomimeticdesign]

Be, Contemplate, Imagine. #03

Assignment 2.3 Al Kennedy - BCI: Be, Contemplate, Imagine.

  My BCI location is at the heart of the expansive Somerset Levels, a 917.6 hectare (2267.3 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Wedmore in Somerset. This Moor forms part of the extensive grazing marsh and ditch systems of the Somerset Levels and other Moors. There are no hedges and few trees except for lines of pollarded crack and white willows. The area is crisscrossed by drainage ditches. The water table is high throughout the greater part of the year with winter flooding occurring annually, by over-topping of the River Brue. 113 aquatic and bankside vascular plant species have been recorded from the field ditches, rhynes and deep arterial watercourses.

  Observing the environment immediately presents some very obvious man-made systems - evident in the layout of the fields and rhynes (drainage ditches). However these ditches also provide an organic system and rich habitat for natural eco-systems to thrive. Animals, birdlife and plant based organisms all coexist here - mainly out of sight - and at varying scales - from water based micro organisms to larger farm animals such as cattle or sheep. 

  In order to ‘map’ or comprehend the concept of systems for this exercise; it helps me to try to ‘zoom’ out of the location place. I can then begin to understand and imagine the larger systems at work; and then gradually focus down to a macro level. The larger system relies on the seasons weather patterns and how these then impact or effect the environment and determine the local ‘conditions’ for life. 

  Recently this area in SW England was completely flooded, due to extreme weather; and the effect was devastating but the natural flora and fauna now appear to have fully replenished themselves. The Moors and Levels are formed historically from a submerged and reclaimed landscape. Early attempts to control the water levels were possibly made by the Romans.

  Systems thinking: 

The perception of balance - dynamic inflow and outflow - in the landscape is a collaboration between man and nature. There is an influence from the farming needs and livestock - such as grazing on the fields and harvesting crops for animal feed. The natural system is very much dependent on the drains or water systems and the rich soil nutrients that are embedded with a rich peat soil base. 

As a result of their wetland nature, the Moors and Levels contain rich systems of biodiversity supporting a vast variety of plant species, including common plants such as Marsh Marigold, Meadowsweet, and Ragged Robin. The area is also an important feeding ground for birds including Bewick’s Swan, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Skylark, Common Snipe, Common Teal, Wigeon, and Whimbrel, as well as birds of prey including the Marsh Harrier and Peregrine Falcon. A wide range of insect species is also present and in addition, the area supports an important Otter population.

All of these species coexist as part of a larger ecosystem - interconnected and surviving amongst this environment. Demonstrating clearly a scale and infrastructure at many levels that is not clear on first view but reveals a rich system where all parts are interdependent on each other. Most striking for me is that these are not apparent to us humans - and the importance and support network our Natural Capital provides is predominately taken very much for granted.

How these interconnected systems can inspire a design solution - could be applied to such concepts for city planning, communication systems, communities and organisational business models for example. 

  Thoughts / Ideas:

Emergent ideas I have had relate to business structure for example; to develop diversity and encouraging flexibility in your organisation - systems to promote stability and response to external disturbance.

This process and insight could provide a biomimetic model and valid strategy for implementing no central management within the organisation; but the creation of small ‘pods’ or working teams with a transparent communication mechanism so everybody knows how things are working? (action and reaction based). 

  Work in progress...

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Be, Contemplate, Imagine. #02

Assignment 2.2 Al Kennedy - BCI: Be, Contemplate, Imagine.

My approach to our second BCI session this week was to focus in on individual organisms and plants within the broad flat landscape I had already chosen at the beginning of the week. For this session we were to go through the same exercises but we were directed to contemplate the natural functions of organisms, and specifically pick three functions from the asknature.org Biomimicry Taxonomy (PDF)

I started by collecting as many leaf or plant samples that I could from a small area - and laid them together on the table after my session. The reason why I had chosen to do this was to appreciate and visualise the shear abundance of different plants that coexist within a very small area. To examine the different structures, designs and forms as a designer - this fascinates me and invited me to ask the question why?

Why so many shapes, mechanics, forms colours and textures? 

What are their strategies of survival or function?

Why can they all be different but yet live and survive together?

What are these strategies based upon to help deliver the necessary functions?

What other functions might this characteristic be performing for the organism?

My chosen functions from the taxonomy are presented below:

1/ Make > Exploring the physical design and structure of each plant. 

To understand how the form and assembly work. This exploration led me to understand more about whether the plant was optimising its ability to distribute its seeds successfully, or perhaps to grow tall, thin and be flexible in the wind above the other plants to reach the sunlight; or had evolved in its design to attract pollinators by use of bright colour (yellow in this example) of the flower at the top of its structure.

2/ Process information > Sense Signals > Chemicals (odour,taste) > Flowers increase pollen transfer > Using colour as an attractor/signal (yellow flower)

"However, all individual plants of one species, while they produce a scent that mimics the female pheromone in its essentials, do not smell exactly the same. Each plant differs sufficiently from others to suggest to the bee that this next one, with a slightly different fragrance, will give him the satisfaction that has eluded him so far." (Attenborough 1995:129)

3/ Maintain Community > Cooperate & compete > within this eco-system.

How did all these various species exist together in the same environment. All having various functions to maintain their place in the eco-system. Also and importantly how did they survive and regrow after such things as floods which were common place on this flat moorland. Was this the reason for their height and structural designs? How do they cooperate to survive and are they all dependent on each others success?

Thoughts/Ideas:

Why are natural (eco)systems so different? 

Optimal use of nearby resources (sun, minerals, water or lack of these resources).

External cycli are fully integrated (cycli like: day and night, dry and wet, seasons).

Stability and response to external disturbance (stability through diversity and flexibility).

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Be, Contemplate, Imagine. #01

Assignment 2.1 Al Kennedy - BCI: Be, Contemplate, Imagine.

Tealham Moor Drove

Deliberately I chose somewhere well known to me; a place where I walk with my dog regularly. This place is situated half way down a bridle path across what is called Tealham Moor (centre of the image below.)  

This is a very ancient place, being part of the expansive Somerset Levels, a 917.6 hectare (2267.3 acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Wedmore in Somerset. This Moor forms part of the extensive grazing marsh and ditch systems of the Somerset Levels and other Moors. There are no hedges and few trees except for lines of pollarded crack and white willows. The area is crisscrossed by drainage ditches. The water table is high throughout the greater part of the year with winter flooding occurring annually, by over-topping of the River Brue. 113 aquatic and bankside vascular plant species have been recorded from the field ditches, rhynes and deep arterial watercourses.

Even though this track across the Moor is nearby from home; it is not a place where I just sit still to contemplate. The process of taking time in this spot I thought I knew very well, would give me a complete new experience and feeling for the essence of the place. Combined with the brief to experience this place with fresh perspective as a designer - this allowed me to focus on the elements of the place in a new way.

I stopped to sit on an old stone farmers bridge crossing a ryhne, made from four large slabs of local limestone. The bridge allowed me to witness the abundance and wildness of the local environment. My aspect was lower down than my normal standing view; and I felt hidden within the lush landscape, which gave me a real sense of connection. I felt the warm sun on my skin and became aware of the wind in the reeds and the rushing noise as it picked up into the trees, then calmed and disappeared.

I started to notice how the clouds were forming above me, giving me an indication of the weather to come later in the day. The day was humid but with a fresh breeze swirling across the flat landscape. I also started to notice the smaller insects and butterflies, various bird song and feel a real sense that I was part of something much larger. Part of a rich and diverse system that I did not understand, which also communicated a real sense of scale. Both in terms of place, making me feel humble and small, but also in terms of time. A slowing down to begin to feel a ‘natural’ rhythm and sense of permanence.  

This landscape appears unchanged in hundreds of years - feeling very remote and tranquil. I became much more connected with the landscape and through the lens of a designer I noticed the colourscapes consisting of swathes of greens and multitude of variations.  Horizontal bands of colour stretch across my view. Some might say the horizon and the view is featureless; but as I sat and soaked it in I felt a real sense of harmony and balance. The colour palette is complimentary and nothing feels unnecessary or jarring on the eye - everything ‘fits’.

I start then to take note of the detail around me, the variety of grasses, nettles, brambles, flowers and simply watch the various movements of plants, animals and the harvesting activities of dragonflies and bees. 

My experience and the focussed attention has shown me the rich landscape; and allowed me to appreciate the amazing diversity right on my doorstep - which made  me feel overwhelmed in the complexity of the systems at work to bring this beautiful place to life.