- Information
- The Architect
- Description
The Inspiration: Termite Mound
Scientific Name of Species: macrotermes michaelseni
Product Overview: Biomimetic architecture
Scientific background to the Termite inspired buried pipes:
http://www.sandkings.co.uk
http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org
Janine Benyus and Mick Pearce
Architect Mick Pearce collaborated with engineers at Arup Associates to build the Eastgate building. It is modeled on the self-cooling mounds of macrotermes michaelseni, termites that maintain the temperature inside their nest to within one degree of 31°C, day and night, - while the external temperature varies between 3°C and 42°C. It opened in 1996 and provides 5,600 m of retail space, 26,000 m² of office space and parking for 450 cars.
The Eastgate building, Harare, Zimbabwe: The Eastgate, also called "The Anthill", is modeled on the self-cooling mounds of Macrotermes michaelseni termites. These termites maintain the temperature inside their nest to within one degree of 31°C, day and night. The mounds accomplish this even when the external temperature varies between 3°C and 42°C. Eastgate uses only 10 percent of the energy of a conventional building its size, saved 3.5 million in air conditioning costs in the first five years, and rents space for 20% lower than a newer building next door.
The Laggarberg School, Sundsvall, Northern Sweden: The Laggarberg School is one of the marvelous creations of the Swedish architect Anders Nyquist. Designed in 1995, it has been keeping students comfortable for over a decade, cooling air in the summer and warming it in the winter. Even the old building next door has been retrofitted using principles learned from the termites.
Tropical Hospital Las Gaviotas in the Vichada: This hospital uses the same principles demonstrated in Harare and Sundsvall with the added benefit that the air rising from the tunnels contains a mere 17% humidity, thanks to the condensing effect of aluminum rods installed in the underground tunnels.