Bio-inspired architecture between memory and innovation

Architecture has always been inspired by nature to define bio-inspired structures and solutions capable of emulating the form or functioning of natural organisms. When one imitates the form alone, it is a matter of biomorphism, when instead one imitates the function, it is a matter of biomimetics, a rapidly growing discipline in the field of architecture in recent years. Often morphological emulation is aimed not only at copying the shape but at imitating the functioning of the natural organism to ensure structural performance. This paper provides an overview of the bioinspired solutions implemented up to the 20th century and an overview of the latest solutions, which highlight the evolution of technology, materials, and design and construction tools. In particular, the examples analyzed in this paper, show how the inspiration from nature has deep roots, especially in the last century and how much today it offers the possibility to plan and construct light architectures with a methodological approach more and more pushed to imitate function and behavior.