The most interesting strategies that emerged from this session:
1.
Strategy: The branching of trees to cover large area for water and sunlight collection
Functions: Collecting energy, while optimizing material usage, managing compression and preventing deformation
This is a great example of how nature uses shape rather than material. The tree has to cover a large area to gather the rain and sun it needs. The mass/volume of the tree and the amount of energy it has to collect are directly related, so the tree has to optimize this relation. One of the strategies it uses is the shape: a strong network of roots, a large trunk and gradually smaller branches reaching out to support the leaves and as it was the case this morning: the large volumes of water resting on the leaves.
It also laminates its own material in a circular pattern that increases its strength, instead of simply adding more material.
2.
Strategy: The Cardinals flame red color attracts females
Function: Attract attention
3.
Strategy: The crown of flowers sit on top of their long stems and are brightly colored
Function: Attract attention
Both 2 and 3 are great strategies for attracting attention. Both use color and the flowers also uses shape (reaching high over the surrounding plants)
4.
Strategy: The soil holds water, nutrients from dead plants and waste from animals
Function: Store energy
The soil uses the shape (the composition and texture) of the soil and the locally available energy sources to store the energy and release it for further use when needed.
In this proces nature utilizes a ressource that humans very seldom use to their benefit: time. Time always seems to be a constraint for us rather than a ressource. Many natural processes are slow, but if we had the vision to plan ahead (sometimes beyond our own lifetime) the ressource of time could be considered as one of our strongest ressources rather than a constraint.
/Christian
1.
Strategy: The branching of trees to cover large area for water and sunlight collection
Functions: Collecting energy, while optimizing material usage, managing compression and preventing deformation
This is a great example of how nature uses shape rather than material. The tree has to cover a large area to gather the rain and sun it needs. The mass/volume of the tree and the amount of energy it has to collect are directly related, so the tree has to optimize this relation. One of the strategies it uses is the shape: a strong network of roots, a large trunk and gradually smaller branches reaching out to support the leaves and as it was the case this morning: the large volumes of water resting on the leaves.
It also laminates its own material in a circular pattern that increases its strength, instead of simply adding more material.
2.
Strategy: The Cardinals flame red color attracts females
Function: Attract attention
3.
Strategy: The crown of flowers sit on top of their long stems and are brightly colored
Function: Attract attention
Both 2 and 3 are great strategies for attracting attention. Both use color and the flowers also uses shape (reaching high over the surrounding plants)
4.
Strategy: The soil holds water, nutrients from dead plants and waste from animals
Function: Store energy
The soil uses the shape (the composition and texture) of the soil and the locally available energy sources to store the energy and release it for further use when needed.
In this proces nature utilizes a ressource that humans very seldom use to their benefit: time. Time always seems to be a constraint for us rather than a ressource. Many natural processes are slow, but if we had the vision to plan ahead (sometimes beyond our own lifetime) the ressource of time could be considered as one of our strongest ressources rather than a constraint.
/Christian