Biomimicry Design - Bone as "light" seating, and other examples

 image taken from:   http://www.dirtymouse.co.uk/product-design/ninna-helena-olsen/

When I saw this structure it was immediately recognisable to me as an object with a biological influence or inspiration.  This piece, called Osso Buco, means in Italian "Bone with a hole in it".  

Bone tissue is netted like this - giving it great strength, the ability to spread out the force of impact equally  - making our bones both shock resistant (mostly), flexible,, and light weight.   

                                             image taken from:  http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/tb2006_0413.htm

 

 Ninna Helena Olsen is a Danish based designer and architect - who's work ranges from sculptural to functional with varying degrees in between.     You can check out her work at:  http://www.ninnahelena.dk/ninnahelena.html 

 

Now her work isn't typically about biomimicry  - but other scientists are working to change the design world by looking to nature to find examples and source material for these concepts.  In these 2 videos, Janine Benyus shares her ideas and the key concepts to this process:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/janine_benyus_biomimicry_in_action.html

• Janine Benyus shares nature's designs

http://www.ted.com/talks/janine_benyus_shares_nature_s_designs.html