Genius of Place

A Genius of Place review brings an understanding of the pre-tested, locally attuned sustainability strategies adopted by the local organisms and ecosystems specific to a design challenge. biomimicrySA aims to complete a number of Genius of Place reviews for key South African regions. We are seeking funding for these projects. The first initiative we aim to complete is the Genius of Place review for the Western Cape. See more information below and contact us if you are interested in participating in or funding this initiative in part or in full.

Western Cape Genius of Place Review

This Genius of Place review will focus on how nature manages water in the Western Cape area based on millions of years of adaptation and evolution of years. Through the Biomimicry methodology, we will specifically:

• Review 20 organisms per focus area
• Translate the findings into well-adapted, innovative and sustainable design principles/strategies.
• Deliver design applications for water management, urban planning, design, the built environment and landscaping.

 

This initiative develops from, and forms part of theWestern Cape 110% Green Initiative. The Biomimicry Genius of Place is a registered flagship project of 110% Green. BiomimicrySA commits to leading and coordinating a Genius of Place review of chosen focus areas, possibly including (to be confirmed: Berg River Catchment, Oude Molen, Camissa, and Knysna), commencing in 2013.

 

Marion Adamson (maz[a]biomimicrysa.co.za), Business Relationship Liasison within BiomimicrySA and Project Lead on this 110% Green initiative will be responsible for the implementation of this initiative. Marion will manage internal research staff as well as all relationships with external partners. Each Stakeholder area will nominate a key contact person responsible for programme oversight.

 

Why a Genius of Place Review?

Organisms and ecosystems face the same challenges that we humans do, but they meet those challenges sustainably. The premise of biomimicry is that Life has been performing design experiments in Earth’s R&D lab for 3.8 billion years and what is flourishing on the planet today are the best ideas – those that perform well in context, while economizing on energy and materials. Whatever the design challenge, the odds are high that one or more of the world’s 30 million creatures has not only faced the same challenge, but has evolved effective strategies to solve it.

 

The selective pressure placed on all natural life forms minimizes and removes failures. Organisms are the consummate physicists, chemists, and engineers, and ecosystems are economies beyond compare. They can provide us with innovative and progressive solutions to the design, engineering and other challenges that we now face: water, energy, food production, climate control, benign chemistry, transportation, packaging, and more. The vision is to create products, processes, buildings, organizations, systems and policies—new ways of living—that are well-adapted to life on earth over the long haul. ”Doing it nature’s way” has the potential to change the way we manage water, grow food, make materials, harness energy, heal ourselves, store information, and conduct business.