Designing A Better Future With Biomimicry By Ar. Chetan KS | Elev8 2025

Designing A Better Future With Biomimicry By Ar. Chetan KS | Elev8 2025 | Masterclass

Posted On June 17 2025 Total Post Views :- 1022

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.

This Circular Building Is Conceived As Civic Institution Beyond A Library | Studio Infinity

In a landscape where aspiration quietly waits, Granthalay emerges as a circular building and sanctuary for learning—gathering people, knowledge, and place into a shared civic moment. Granthalay is conceived as a civic institution that extends beyond the conventional idea of a library, responding to the acute lack of educational and community infrastructure in the district […]

An Old Manor House Was Refurbished To A Retirement Home | Chinthaka Wickramage Associates

A dilapidated old manor house in Jaffna peninsula, with warped roof beams, warped door windows and many structural defects were presented to the architects for refurbishment- by clients- to be refurbished as a retirement home for themselves who were returning to Sri Lanka after escaping to overseas due to the 25 years old North East […]

This Modest Home Remains Simple And Emotionally Grounded | Studio Emphasis

This residence is a sincere exploration of how architecture can remain simple, climate sensitive, cost-effective, and emotionally grounded, without compromising on spatial quality or design intent. Conceived as a 3BHK modest home for a small family, the project stands as a testament to what is possible when thoughtful planning, craft-oriented construction, and material intelligence come […]

The Balanced Aesthetics Of This Pune Home Respects Privacy While Creating A Design Story | Archos

Design, when it emerges as a living tapestry, turns the experience of living into a vibrant everyday narrative. Baldota House in Alandi, Pune by ARCHOS accommodates three generations under a single roof in the area spanning 7500 Sq. Ft. Spearheaded by the family’s desire for a generous space and a theatrical essence along with balanced […]

Designed With A Monochromatic Palette, This Home Brings A Touch Of Nature | SSDA Architects

Few homes are celebrated for their iconic interiors, while some are celebrated for their open layouts. True to its unique context and subtleties, this home with a monochromatic palette, designed by Ar. Saumya Khanna & Ar. Sudhir Ambawata Co – founders & principle architects of SSDA Architects brings the essence of volumetric design and a […]

The Bamboo Pavilion Adopts A Sustainable Living Approach In Today’s Time | Lyth Design

Adopting sustainable living today, both in design and daily life, is crucial for reducing our environmental footprint and preserving resources for future generations. In the design of this bamboo pavilion, this means using eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient technologies, and creating spaces that harmonize with natural surroundings. In daily living, sustainability involves mindful consumption, reducing waste, conserving […]

Nestled Amidst Lush Landscape Aashiyana Balances Craft And Context | Srijit Srinivas Architects

Tucked into the lush landscape of Thiruvananthapuram, Aashiyana is a residence that balances context, climate, and craft. Designed by architect Srijit Srinivas, this bungalow is conceived as more than a tropical retreat-it is a spatial journey where bold colour, filtered light, and thoughtful materials orchestrate a distinctive atmosphere. Nestled Amidst Lush Landscape Aashiyana Balances Craft […]

This Residence Was Conceived As An Inward-Looking Sanctuary For A Family Of Four | The Insideout Studio

Situated on a compact 1200 sft south-west corner plot, this residence was conceived as an inward-looking sanctuary for a family of four — a home that balances privacy and openness, light and enclosure, within the dense urban fabric. This Residence Was Conceived As An Inward-Looking Sanctuary For A Family Of Four | The Insideout Studio […]

Open Spaces Within This Building Break Away The Rigid Boundaries Of This Residence | The Purple Ink Studio

Project 1374 is located in one of the plotted developments in the north of Bangalore, characterized by well-demarcated plots, open spaces, spacious roads, and organized infrastructure. Trees flank the wide streets, dividing the plots with dense canopies offering shaded avenues. Abutting the plot stood a cluster of trees- a quiet presence. We borrowed these trees […]

The Design Language Of This Residence Is Typically Associated With Sustainability | Kamat & Rozario Architecture

‘Roots’ was an experiment to build sustainably but not confer to the design language typically associated with sustainable buildings. This residential project re-considers the expression of sustainable architecture through a minimalist and materially grounded lens. Located on a 4,000 sq.ft. plot, the designers conceived the house for a family of three and their pet, organizing […]