Early mobile home Aged 500 million years
The
Nautilus
Shell
A masterpiece of space,
adaptation and colour.
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The Chambered Nautilus is the best-known species of nautilus and is thought to have survived millions of years unchanged. Nautilus shells represent one of the finest natural examples of a logarithmic spiral through the development of its internal chambers. As the nautilus body grows it creates new larger chambers and moves into them sealing each out-grown area along the way. From four chambers at birth, each Nautilus can have thirty or more in adulthood. Nautilus shells were popular items in the 1800’s, often mounted on a thin stem to make extravagant nautilus shell cups or used to make decorations.
The Nautilus Shell. Design flexibility to live its surroundings.
Energy efficient apartment block Home to 100’s
Social
Weaver
Birds
Masters of architecture
and collaboration
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Often labelled as “One of the world’s top 10 most interesting birds”, the Sociable Weaver lives in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. They are often called social weavers as they do not build individual nests; rather they build communal nests that can house as many as 400 birds. The communal nest can fill an entire tree canopy and may last for 100 years. The nest is divided into separate rooms for nesting, feeding and sleeping, not unlike our own apartment blocks. Rooms in the centre of the nest retain heat so the birds roost in them at night when it’s cool outside. During the day, the birds cool off in the outer rooms. The Sociable Weaver.
Another answer of collaboration in architectural design excellence.
Organic growth Urban growth
The
Kawakawa
Leaf
Making environments which respond to their surroundings
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The distinctive New Zealand native kawakawa grows throughout New Zealand. The name kawakawa comes from the Maori word for bitter, and its leaves, bark and berries are used in traditional herbal medicine, for making tea, and as an insect repellent when placed on a fire. Kawakawa leaves are often used in Maori tangi and are associated with mourning.
Kawakawa shrubs provide a natural habitat for the native Looper moth caterpillar. These caterpillars are predominatly responsible for the distinctive perforated holes across the leaf surface.