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Cited by 14Architecture, Modernity, and DesignArchitecture and Computational DesignUrban Design and Spatial Analysis

Can we identify general architectural principles that impact the collective behaviour of both human and animal systems?

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Penn, Alan, Turner, J. Scott·2018·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
DOI 10.1098/rstb.2018.0253PMC PMC6030581
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Abstract

The search for general common principles that unify disciplines is a longstanding challenge for interdisciplinary research. Architecture has always been an interdisciplinary pursuit, combining engineering, art and culture. The rise of biomimetic architecture adds to the interdisciplinary span. We discuss the similarities and differences among human and animal societies in how architecture influences their collective behaviour. We argue that the emergence of a fully biomimetic architecture involves breaking down what we call ‘pernicious dualities’ that have permeated our discourse for decades, artificial divisions between species, between organism and environment, between genotype and phenotype, and in the case of architecture, the supposed duality between the built environment and its builders. We suggest that niche construction theory may serve as a starting point for unifying our thinking across disciplines, taxa and spatial scales. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Interdisciplinary approaches for uncovering the impacts of architecture on collective behaviour’.

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  • Buildings establish social importance and 'meaning' through embellishments and modifications to their surface properties and structural features.

    “Buildings also establish social importance and 'meaning' through embellishments and modifications to their surface properties and structural features 165 .”

    From From cognitive maps to spatial schemas (2023) · cites this paper as [165]

  • A building regulates the flow of air and individuals across its boundaries, similar to a living system.

    “For example, a building regulates the flow of air and individuals across its boundaries, similar to a living system 165 .”

    From From cognitive maps to spatial schemas (2023) · cites this paper as [165]

  • Local rules often define the topological relations of containment and boundary.

    “Local rules often define the topological relations of containment and boundary 165 .”

    From From cognitive maps to spatial schemas (2023) · cites this paper as [165]

  • The global form of 'beady-ring' settlements of Les Yves in southern France results from a recursive addition of spatial units according to a local rule.

    “For example, the global form of 'beady-ring' settlements of Les Yves in southern France results from a recursive addition of spatial units according to a local rule 165 .”

    From From cognitive maps to spatial schemas (2023) · cites this paper as [165]

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [25]Turner JS, Soar RC 2008 Beyond biomimicry: what termites can tell us about realizing the living building. In Industrialised, integrated, intelligent sustainable construction (eds Wallis I, Bilan L, Smith M, Kazi AS), pp. 233– 248. London, UK: I3CON BSRIA.
  2. [52]Uexküll J v. 1909 Umwelt und Innenwelt der Tiere. Berlin, GER: J Springer.
  3. [53]Gibson JJ 1977 The theory of affordances. In Perceiving, acting and knowing. Toward and ecological psychology (eds Shaw RE, Bransford J), p. 27 Abingdon, UK: Routledge.

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Authors
Penn, A., & Turner, J. S.
Affiliations
  • University College London (GB)
  • SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (US)
Corresponding author
Penn, Alan
ORCID
Venue
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Publisher
The Royal Society
Published
2018-07-02
Volume
373
Issue
1753
Pages
20180253
ISSN
  • 0962-8436 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-2970
DOI
10.1098/rstb.2018.0253
PMC
PMC6030581
OpenAlex
W2810998858
Cited by
14
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2
FWCI
46.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/K038656/1, EP/M023583/1, EP/G02619X/1)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Architecture › Architecture, Modernity, and Design
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Architecture › Architecture and Computational Design
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Urban Design and Spatial Analysis
Keywords
biomimetic architecture, collective behavior, human-animal comparison, niche construction theory, organism-environment interaction, built environment, interdisciplinary unification, animal societies
MeSH terms
Built Environment, Animals, Architecture, Behavior, Animal, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Social Behavior, Biomimetics

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