Winners Innovation Inspired by Nature for Eleven’s International Biomimicry Competition

International online magazine and competition generator Eleven is excited to announce the winners of their latest ideas and design competition Biomimicry . Eleven launched their 4th international ideas and design competition with the aim of challenging the international creative community to submit nature-inspired designs to address man-made problems.

The aim of the competition was to make Biomimicry accessible for designers. The proposals submitted showcased a real variety of ideas in multiple fields, which ranged from product design, fashion, mobility, technology, architecture and large scale urban concepts. In turn, this underlined how nature can be a critical element in all aspects and scales of design. Eleven’s jury of biomimicry experts and the general public have finally voted, and we are thrilled to formally announce the winners of this international challenge!

Winner – Symbiotic Architecture: Space of Emotional Saturation by Karina Ashrapova (Russia)

In this winning design, Karina imagines a more organic model for mankind, as she challenges the idea of humans – an organic being – living in highly artificial environments we call cities. In her beautifully presented and highly captivating drawings, Karina shows us a conceptual alternative to our urban fabric.

It is easy to be drawn in by Karina’s vision, but what makes her proposal truly inspirational is how, beyond aesthetics, there is a deep, rigorous analysis of how nature actually organises and designs itself. All in all, this makes Karina’s Symbiotic Architecture stand out from the crowd and show us how, no matter the complexities of the problem, if we dare dream a little, nature can be a fundamental guide in showing us previously unimaginable realities. We are sure that if we were to ask nature, “How would you design the ultimate city?”, the answer would be: “Ask Karina!” .

Runner-Up  – Nautile by Gillian Graves and Michka Mélo (France)

Gillian and Michka’s proposal Nautile seeks to redesign an ordinary product – a kettle – in an extraordinary way. Nautile is the result of what happens when a design team dissects an everyday appliance to highlight its faults (in this case one of the most used yet energy inefficient products in our households) and re-engineers it through the study of specific elements found in nature.

It is a hybrid of concepts – from Toucan beaks to Termite mounds and even Polar bears – which work together in symbiosis, resulting in a pretty thought-out and cool design. The outcome: a kettle which uses 80% less energy and accessorises your home I n the process. Sitting at the opposite end of the size scale to our winning proposal, Gillian and Michka show us that even mundane products can be revolutionised into beautiful and – perhaps most importantly – more environmentally friendly designs when we look at nature for inspiration.

People’s Choice Award – Berkeley Aquatic Park Algae Energy Pavilion by Chloe Huang and Oscar Huang (USA)

In parallel to the jury voting, we give the chance for the public to vote for their particular favourite projects, who then go on to win the People’s Choice Award.  In this competition, the winning team comprises of Chloe and Oscar, who won the public over with their design for an energy-generating aquatic pavilion for Berkeley, California.

The pavilion – designed to mimic a willow branch – harnesses solar energy through a process known as Algae Biofuel Process in a series of diamond-shaped components containing PV cells and live algae. In doing so, power is produced and an attractive sculptural piece for the park is created.

Honorable Mentions

In Project Breathe by Amber Goveas (Canada)

takes inspiration from lichens to produce an organic facade designed to act as a filtering system for air pollution in our neighbourhoods, encourage biodiversity, and hold shelters for the homeless community.

Honorable Mentions

Rain Bellows by Rachael Meyer, Alexandra Ramsden, Jennifer Barnes and Michele Richmond’s (USA)

proposes a pluvial pocket for buildings in Seattle, USA, inspired by the Common Ice Plant.

Honorable Mentions

Symbiosis by Despina Linaraki’s (Greece)

looks at tackling the expansion of Mumbai, India, and is inspired by coral reefs to design a new amphibious urban typology.

Honorable Mentions

OysTower by Jori Erdmanand and Christopher James’ (USA)

study oysters – amongst other things – as a model for marshland coastal architecture.

Honorable Mentions

Folium by Brook Kennedy (USA)

in his product-design project shows us how an everyday problem can be solved by looking at nature, in his leaf-inspired water-repellant bicycle seat which guarantees a soggy-free ride around town.

Honorable Mentions

In Circle of Life by Vicky Chan, Gordon Laplante, Erica Wong and Leo Lei (USA)

show us a cradle-to-cradle concept of organic architecture based on the natural cycle of both trees and humans.

Source and images, Courtesy of Eleven.