In this special session, Ar. Chetan KS, the founder of Kham Design, shows us the power of biomimicry design inspired by Nature. In this masterclass, you will explore the “why” and “what” of biomimicry. With over 25 years of professional experience, his architectural work has consistently engaged with the idea of creating environmentally sensitive spaces. His journey into biomimicry began over 15 years ago, prompted by a student’s thesis proposal. This curiosity evolved into a sustained engagement with the subject, shaping both his pedagogy and practice. 

The primary aim of the session was to introduce students and design professionals to the fundamentals of biomimicry, its relevance in addressing contemporary environmental challenges, and how nature-inspired solutions can radically transform design thinking.

Key Insights

1. Biomimicry as a Framework for Sustainability

• Biomimicry involves learning from and emulating nature’s time-tested strategies to solve human design challenges.
  
• Chetan KS emphasized that nature is the longest-standing designer. With 3.8 billion years of evolutionary experience, and provides systems that are cyclical, efficient, and waste-free.
  

2. Contrasting Natural and Human Systems

• Further, Chetan drew a vivid comparison between natural processes like photoglyphs, which convert carbon into light, and human processes like cement factories, which emit carbon to produce similar outcomes.
  
• The case study of Blue Planet, a company that created carbon-absorbing cement inspired by nature, was cited as a successful example of biomimicry in construction.
  

3. Historical Perspective on Human Impact

• Also, humanity’s presence on Earth was put into perspective through a 24-hour clock analogy: Homo sapiens appeared in the final 3 seconds, yet have caused massive environmental degradation in that short span.
  
• Furthermore, he enlightened that the post-WWII era marked a turning point, ushering in the age of single-use products and synthetic materials that cannot biodegrade, leading to phenomena like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
  

4. Design’s Role in Environmental Degradation

• Here, designers were identified as key agents in the creation and potential reversal of environmental damage. From consumer electronics to packaging, products are intentionally made non-recyclable for convenience and profit.
  
• Moreover, the session included powerful visual representations by artist Chris Jordan, such as artworks made from thousands of plastic cups and cell phones, to quantify and visualise waste.
  

5. The Ethical Responsibility of Designers

• Participants were urged to recognise their role in shaping material culture. Design decisions, materials, lifespan, and recyclability have deep implications.
  
• Examples were shared of how plastic, though a breakthrough material, became a double-edged sword due to short-sighted design choices.
  

6. Learning Biomimicry from Nature’s Principles

• Also, nature’s core principle is “Life creates conditions conducive to life.”
  
• Further, Chetan introduced the Biomimicry Institute’s life principles and the concept of Cradle to Cradle to advocate for regenerative, closed-loop systems where waste from one process becomes input for another.
  
• Furthermore, he suggested resources such as biomimicry3.8.org for students to explore these principles further.

Conclusion

Hence, the session closed with a powerful call to action: designers must lead the shift toward ecological responsibility. Thereafter, Chetan stressed that the path to sustainability does not rest solely with politicians or environmentalists, but with the everyday choices made by those who design the built and manufactured environment.