Biosynergetics and Ecological Design

Biosynergetics allows us to design and assemble eco-systems that are resilient, dynamic, and yield an abundance of resources - sustainably.

Click here to see a brochure of the services we can provide (330kb).

Below are some key resources with links to sustainable management strategies.

Site & Landscape:

We analyse and develop the site and its landscape in a way that allows an expression of the genius loci to evolve. Landscaping and soil-management create a foundation for the sustainable management of all other site resources. Read more…

Water:

A precious resource, water is often managed ineffectively. Rainwater and surface run-off is often treated as a kind of waste that is disposed of as quickly as possible, while potable water is used to dispose of human waste. This is absurd in a country faced with water shortages and periodic droughts. Innovative rain-water harvesting and storage systems allow your site and structures to gather, store and re-distribute this vital resource. We have developed low-cost, simple designs for the separation of greywater from blackwater, and the treatment of greywater in suitable systems. Re-cycle and re-use your wastewater, and cut your water bills. Read more…

Biodiversity:

In addition to the aesthetic function, landscapes can yield a variety of tangible and valuable benefits to inhabitants. These include the reduction of extreme temperature events, prevention of erosion and scouring, provision of shade, improvement of air quality, humidification, enhanced privacy, energy, food, medicine, reduction of extreme winds, attracting birdlife. Read more…

Energy:

We have developed experience with the specification, custom design and installation of renewable energy systems for domestic and specialised applications, including photovoltaics, solar water heaters, and . We also apply the principles of passive solar design to optimise the use of solar energy to regulate temperature and light in buildings. Read more…

Shelter:

The processes and materials used in conventional building are extremely energy-intensive and polluting. Natural building employs renewable resources and processes that are locally-produced, and involve less embodied energy. Read more…

Biomass:

A variety of options exist to treat and rehabilitate the biomass generated by human activity - sewerage, food scraps, etc. Well-designed systems allow biomass to be re-used in the landscape and even to generate energy. Read more…

Designing for Integration

There are various different steps you can take and products you can use in each of these areas. Through our research, we have composed a menu of component technologies to improve the efficiency and reduce the ecological footprint of your project. However, seen as isolated elements, these components lack coherence. To assemble a functioning system, we apply biosynergetics to specify and link up various complementary technologies appropriate to the context. Appropriateness is determined by a functional analysis.

A Functional Analysis takes the shape of a systemic input/output assessment. Here, we consider what environmental conditions and inputs the inhabitants require, what activities they engage in, and what outputs they generate. Any building represents an ecological niche constructed to accommodate peoples’ activities, to provide and regulate essential inputs and to channel and absorb outputs. The same applies on a larger scale to settlements.

In some cases, what can be perceived as a nuisance that needs to be disposed of (e.g. stormwater runoff, greywater) can be redirected, processed and stored in a way that allows it to become a resource (e.g. roofwater tanks, greywater biofilters, constructed wetlands). It is important to not only identify the qualitative aspects of such an analysis, i.e. what kinds of resource flows are expected, but also to consider quantitative aspects, i.e. the amounts of resources expected to flow through a system and the resultant minimum capacity and scale of the system. In doing so, it is vital to consider how well the design will accommodate future growth, expansion and change in activities.

The functional analysis allows us to map out a network of environmental and human factors relevant to the project. Based on this assessment, patterns will emerge that enable an astute designer to identify a site’s unique challenges, resources and opportunities, and respond to these conditions with a choice of designs, materials and processes that address the functional requirements and manage environmental factors.

The crucial part of the design process is to weave all the disparate bits and pieces together into a single, coherent life-system, i.e. in a way that each element of green technology benefits the others. This is about how to fit all the pieces together in a system that is as coherent, resilient and efficient as possible.