How Nature is Inspiring Modern Architecture

When it comes to modern architecture, sustainability has been on every architect’s agenda in recent years. 

Across the whole industry, much is being done to cut down on environmental damage and the negative effects that construction can have on our planet, whether that’s through the low-carbon, earth-based precast retaining wall, or the long-lasting, energy-efficient LED and OLED lighting solutions across commercial homes and office buildings. 

With sustainability at the forefront of the conversation, however, it is not just the details of a construction project that champion the cause – it’s the look of the entire project itself.

While thousands of construction projects have been working to protect the planet, they have also been heavily influenced by it, using nature as a key factor in the overall architectural design. With this in mind, we’re going to take a look at three ways nature has transformed modern architecture, along with three unique examples.

Integrating the Indoors with the Outdoors

One of the most significant ways in which nature has inspired architecture is through open glass expanses – glass walls that seamlessly integrate the interior with the exterior, creating a sense of oneness. Not only does this make the interior an extension of nature, but it also floods it with natural light, reducing the amount of energy the project will consume down the line. 

A good example of this comes in architect Michael Kendrick’s ‘Looking Glass Lodge’, a retreat in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Hastings. Here, the smooth design and glass facades create a nature-based spatial experience, making the building feel completely unified with its surroundings from both the outside and inside.

Taking Inspiration in Nature

Architects have also been taking inspiration from the beauty of nature, incorporating specific design features that celebrate the world around us. One of the most famous examples of this is the National Stadium in Beijing, which was designed by Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron. 

Nicknamed the ‘Bird’s Nest’, this stadium was supposed to replicate the look of a nest, with the bowl-shaped interior and roof integrated into a grid-like formation of overlapping steel trusses. In each grid, there is a translucent membrane, replicating the way birds will fill empty spaces in their nests with materials. Around the world, there are plenty more examples of this, as architects look to the outdoors to make the most crucial design decisions.

Engaging All Our Senses

Lastly, a more subtle and intricate way in which architects have been integrating nature is through our senses – sight, smell, sound, and touch. In several modern buildings, there has been a conscious – and strategic – decision to incorporate nature in this way, whether that’s through the sound of a small waterfall, the fragrance of blooming flowers, or the touch of cork or bamboo. 

All of these create a touchstone that triggers our positive feelings about the natural world and inspires calmness and creativity. One of the most unique and awe-inspiring examples of this comes in the Liebian International Building, where the Ludi Industry Group incorporated an artificial water feature that flows 108 metres down from the front face of the skyscraper – making it look almost like a waterfall made entirely from glass rather than rock.