Incorporation of the principles of nature in architecture: Sun, shade and temperature control in the Sonoran Desert

Abstract

"Incorporation of the Principles of Nature in Architecture; Sun, Shade and Temperature Control in the Sonoran Desert" is a study of the adaptations of selected plants and animals to the unique climatic features of the desert environment. The lessons learned from this study are abstracted from the natural setting and presented in a systematic way to illustrate the incorporation of their adaptive principles into architecture. Living organisms continuously adapt to the changes of their environment and contribute a regenerative cycle of natural processes. Biotechnology adds important issues to the design process, including economy of resources, protection and thermal regulation in harmony with the fluctuations of the natural environment. The interaction of interior and exterior architectural space is a benefit, not a constraint, for the environment and its inhabitants. This biotechnological method can become a viable part of the traditional architectural design process.