Dear Anja-Karina,

Many thanks for your response to my question posted on the Biomimetics
forums.

I think that modern architectural theory is currently challenging the
'classic' academic environment in favour of airy, bright spaces where
circulation, interaction and discussion are all encouraged through the
design of the building rather than the whim of the students.

I think this is the ambition of my scheme...a low rise building where the
circulation becomes the 'life' mixing researchers, students, teachers and
some of the public...low rise in order to prevent communication breakdown
across multiple floors.

If you have any other ideas, please don't hesitate to let me know,

Kind regards,

Gideon Purser

-----Original Message-----
From: Engineers and biologists mechanical design list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of A K Pahl
Sent: 26 October 2004 03:24
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Design for a new Biomimetics Centre

Hello Gideon

What an interesting project. I didnt know there were any biomimeticists
up in Glasgow! But what you are describing sounds like the ideal working
environment for any scientist, biologist or biomimeticist or not. It reminds
me
of the kind of open plan space that progressive and successful companies
create
to encourage multidiscplinary interaction of their employees over coffee
breaks
or, as you say, other informal meetings during the day. I wonder how many
biomimeticsts are doing research on plants, which would use greenhouses, but
perhaps you can plan on inviting some botanists into the research community,
alongside engineers with their big machines? Wish you luck!

Anja-Karina Pahl
Centre for Biomimetic & Natural Technologies
University of Bath



Quoting Gideon Purser <[log in to unmask]>:

> Dear Biomimeticists,
>
> I am currently a fourth year student studying architecture at Glasgow
School
> of Art, and my thesis project for this year is to design a new faculty of
> Biomimetics for the University of Glasgow.  Britain currently has only two
> centres, one at bath and one at Reading, and I feel a large new centre to
> forward this field would be useful and beneficial.
>
> My reasons for posting are to find out how the Biomimetic community at
large
> feels about certain aspects of the place in which they work and what could
> be done to improve facilities or conditions.
>
> I wish to thank you all in advance for any help or guidance you can give
me.
>
> My first question is if winter gardens, or small greenhouses or growing
> spaces would be a useful thing.  The site I am working on is on the edge
of
> parkland and city, with a river running alongside and I had a concept that
> involved outdoor spaces within the building to bring light and
> air deep into the plan.  As the idea developed, I thought of using south
> facing, winter gardens as spaces where plants or specimens could be grown
or
> incubated.  How useful do you think this would be?  A multipurpose space
> where any type of plant or fruit could be grown or studied...?
>
> The building itself would be a university faculty, so there would be
> facilities for students (lecture halls, refectory etc.) as well as labs,
> seminar rooms, teaching spaces for the scientists undergoing their
research.
>  I wanted to make a feature of the circulation within the building &#8211;
a
> place
> where the life of the building takes place; social interactions between
> students and scientists, small meeting and discussion areas; but was
> wondering whether you thought this would be a good idea or not.  Is the
> research work extremely private or would it be nice for students to be
able
> to see what is going on in the other parts of the building?
>
> Would being next to a main river be of any benefit?  In my minds eye I was
> thinking of having some kind of biodegradable nets where fish could be to
be
> studied&#8230;.would this be useful or viable?
>
> Well, I think that is it for now.  Many thanks again for any help you can
> give,
>
> Regards,
>
> Gideon Purser
>