The aim of our study was to apply a biomimetic approach, inspired by the Ammophila arenaria. This organism possesses a reversible leaf opening and closing mechanism that responds to water and salt stress (hydronastic movement). We adopted a problem-based biomimetic methodology in three stages: (i) two observation studies; (ii) how to abstract and develop a parametric model to simulate the leaf movement; and (iii) experiments with bimetal, a smart material that curls up when heated. We added creases to the bimetal active layer in analogy to the position of bulliform cells. These cells determine the leaf-closing pattern. The experiments demonstrated that creases influence and can change the direction of the bimetal natural movement. Thus, it is possible to replicate the Ammophila arenaria leaf-rolling mechanism in response to temperature variation and solar radiation in the bimetal. In future works, we will be able to propose responsive facade solutions based on these results.

The paper aims to propose an overview of biomimetic design, exploring its features from a methodological and critical point of view, highlighting its potential but also its limits, ambiguities, risks, and obscurities. Critical interpretations of biomimetic design are presented through a method based on comparative literature review. This was filtered by several crucial questions aimed at highlighting the effectiveness and value of design approaches based on the observation and emulation of nature in our current historical period. Semantic choices, market impact, efficiency of methods, interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical and environmental consequences are some of the issues analysed. These themes have been selected taking into consideration open and unresolved matters within the international state of the art, in order to trace possible evolutionary strategies for the biomimetic approach, relating it to the current social, economic, political and technological scenario.

This paper investigates the integration of thermo-responsive materials into bio-inspired structures, combining biomimicry and adaptive technologies in architecture. A problem-based biomimetic approach and a morphological analogy with the plate-type snowflake—known for its lightness, transparency, and crystalline organisation—were adopted to develop the geometry of an architectural pavilion. This research highlights glass as a main constructive material, analysing the potential of thermochromic film and the hydrogel technique, both inserted in the context of thermo-responsiveness. In this regard, the focus is on adaptations to temperature changes, exploring how these materials can alter their properties in response to solar incidence, offering solutions for energy efficiency, thermal regulation, and environmental adaptation. The pavilion demonstrates that this integration is feasible, and this is supported by an interdisciplinary approach that combines materials science, bio-inspired design, and practical experimentation. It also highlights biomimicry’s fundamental role as a tool for guiding the development of innovative architectural geometries, while thermo-responsive materials expand the possibilities for creating structures that are adaptable to temperature variations and solar exposure. The conclusion points to the applicability and relevance of this combination, highlighting the transformative potential of thermo-responsive materials in architectural projects, especially in the development of lightweight, transparent, and environmentally responsive structures.

Matérias-primas são fundamentais para fabricação de artefatos diversos. Porém, a crescente demanda por recursos naturais finitos para extrair matérias-primas contribui significativamente para a degradação ambiental. A substituição de materiais sintéticos por produtos naturais vêm ganhando espaço, como por exemplo, fibras lignocelulósicas. Dentre as fibras vegetais mais utilizadas, as de Agave sisalana são uma alternativa de extremo valor por apresentar excelentes propriedades mecânicas. Através de uma abordagem metodológica multidisciplinar em biomimética no campo do design de materiais e biologia, tem-se o objetivo de emular as estratégias da natureza complexa e multifuncional dos sistemas biológicos no desenvolvimento de materiais bioinspirados, sobretudo no contexto da fabricação digital. O desenvolvimento de novos biomateriais disponibilizados a partir da combinação de matérias-primas renováveis e biodegradáveis deve-se principalmente à hierarquia estrutural dos elementos que o constituem. Neste sentido, esta pesquisa adentra na investigação das propriedades mecânicas dos elementos que constituem as paredes celulares das fibras de sisal, para o desenvolvimento de um novo material bioinspirado nas estratégias de leveza e resistência do agave, direcionado à fabricação digital de artefatos sustentáveis.