Be, Contemplate, Imagine
Biomimetic Design • Week 5
It’s late afternoon, Saturday, February 18, 2023 and I’m at the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Outside, it is a cool 25°F late winter day with soft sunshine. My chosen sit spot is the first room within the conservatory. In this room I stand in thick, moist air set to mimic a tropical climate. I am surrounded by greens of all hues. I am in the fern room.
Ferns and other plants in this room grow in all shapes, sizes and heights. Though the room seems to be a chaotic bundle of overlapping branches, leaves and tendrils - there are clear layers to be seen. The hierarchy of plants certainly correlates with the shape of plants at each level. At the base of the tier system are moss covered rocks. Sprawled across this foundation are various types of vines. One is called a Button Fern, which has many leaves that stem from the vine. I believe the sprawl is the Button Fern’s strategy to decentralize and optimize its ability to reach sunlight and water. This netting with decentralized energy inputs could be applied to a net-like water catchment system for an off grid home, or a new type of modem to expand internet reception within a building.
In the next tier I see what is called a Bird’s Nest Fern. Its leaves shoot straight up from its base to form the shape of a cone, or nest. This shape becomes a catchment system of debris and water from the layer above. This plant’s shape and softness could become a product that sits at the base of apple trees to catch apples with minimal bruising.
The next height up I see what is called a Giant Horsetail. This plant is a series of hollow, fluted columns stacked upon each other by joints. It seems individual columns may be pulled away without harming the entire plant. This is resilience to disturbance. I could see this function being used to create resilient (older) children’s toys (like another attempt at Betty Spaghetty, the 1997 mix and match parts doll).
High above me is a staghorn fern. This plant is an epiphyte, meaning it takes root above the ground, often on rocks, trees and old buildings. It uses its height advantage (and mooching) to gather water and sun from up high. Perhaps vertical urban farming could apply this approach by mounting crops up in trees, light poles, telephone wire posts or on the sides of schools or churches.
I end my session feeling at peace and intrigued by this tropical climate. This time here has inspired me to travel again to explore these plant types more deeply.
