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Bionikon 1996 - 2012 “Nulla ars imitari solertiam naturae potest” Cicero
Bionikon
1996 - 2012 “Nulla ars imitari solertiam naturae potest”
Cicero
2
Bionikon How to move creative, crossovered learning-strategy,
based on analogical, lateral and iconic thinking among: art,
nature, science and technology…
Archt. Massimo Lumini
1984-1990 I.E.D Istituto Europeo Design Milano – Cagliari “Project tools - Special Craft &Bionic Designs coordinator”
1999-2009 S.S.I.S. Università degli Studi Cagliari “Visual / Morphology and Figurative Theory - Contract Professor”
1987-2011 I.I.S. “G.Asproni” Scientific & Art High School - Iglesias - CI - Italy “Full time Art’s & Tech-Drawing teacher”
Bionikon
Bionikon’s strategies are actives from 1996; through the application of them, I
have experienced differents opportunities in many didactic environments like:
University teaching, teacher’s formation, high public school teaching, private
design Institute project’s coordination, professionals & scientific popularization.
Our tipical work’s ambient…
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon Inside and outside activity…
The didactic-crossover approach to the knowledge, brings the student to don’t suffer
passively the informations coming from the teacher and from the books.
With the direct teach-training help and by using some creative thinking techinques like:
synectics, bionics, analogical and iconic-joining or brainstorming solving-set, the
student can train his attention and his autonomous ability of reasoning about a large
range of problems setting and problems solving.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
In Bionikon‘s learning environment, the differents disciplines like: art, technology, math,
geometry, design, architecture, language & comunicative’s skills, are intimately jointed
in lateral matrix thought. This cognitive network of experiences, helps young people’s
mind to build his knowledge by means of observations exercises steps, topic
laboratories and practical sessions with lightweight models and simple prototypes.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
One of the most important aspect in Bionikon’s learning-style, is the organization of
differents lessons in a didactics works-steps. They are runs through differents
search’s simulation teamworks .The class is managed in precise and coordinated
students groups, whit a simple inner diagram chart. All the people attending the
meeting, are specialized in specific roles. An inside-coordinator play a special work’s
role and he maintains a narrower interview with the teacher.
This search’s issues becomes into communication ambients, through the
organization of shows and laboratories in public initiatives. Often in
this special circumstances, the students are guests to become like
teacher in a protocol of peer-to peer interaction, introducing the
matters to other students of the same age or more young people.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
Into the lab
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
The didactic’s &formative check-list of didactic objectives that can
be reached in Bionikon’s style are very manifold:
1. To conceive the learning as an active responsibility process
through active study- search projects;
2. To acquire design ability and a transversal vision of the
differents disciplines (especially bionic’s oriented skill design);
3. To experiment creative methodologies like brain-storming and
synectics in differents problem-solving’s contest;
4. To learn to work correctly in a team-set;
5. To know how to communicate search’s results and to actively
interact with the public of different ages (peer-to-peer skills);
6. To succeed in planning to realize and to manage exhibits and
interactive laboratories to the public and in collaborations whit
University depts.;
7. To learn to design, to draw and to build lightweight models, by
using material like: paper, cardboard, wood, metal, plastics etc.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
This images shows some steps of differents work’s-lab with my high-school’s
students. Its can correctly communicate the Bionikon’s teaching-style and
focusing his peculiar skilled methodology.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
earthworm ‘s walking model
10 Bionikon
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
11 Bionikon
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
12 Bionikon
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
“As to invent art & science”
13
Into the lab
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
BASIC WORK’S TOPICS
Bionikon
1. Cymatics and vibrational patterns;
2. Tessellations, Plato’s five, & folding
basic paper patterns;
3. Bubble-soap and minimal surfaces geometry;
4. Tensegrity and geodesic structures;
5. Bones like architectures;
6. Morphological drawing of the natural forms
7. Bionics in problem-solving: bugs’s nests
like bio-inspirated design models.
THE SEVEN BASIC WORK’S TOPICS
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
Into the lab 1. Cymatics and vibrational patterns.
In the 1960’s, the Swiss scientist Hans Jenny conducted a series of experiments to investigate how physical matter responds when irradiated with sound. He called this field of research Cymatics (from the Greek, kyma - the wave, ta kymatika - matters pertaining the waves, wave matters).
AGE 14 - 25
One of the first steps in the Bionikon’s learning system, is to take conscience of the depth energetic, vibrational and physical meaning of the geometric patterns in organic and inorganic subjects. Through the “Chladni’s plates” experiment the Cymatics science, allows the students to face a clear, visible experience of the geometric sound’s matter organization. Sound is now included in its real bubble spatial vibrational dimension.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 25
The knowledge of the ownerships of the radial symmetry, over that from the mathematical and geometric point of view, he is able experimental practically, through a simple, modular cut paper game . Symmetric radial figures are made in analogy with the complex radial patterns of microscope flower’s root sections and other interesting bio-structures.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
Into the lab
Root section from 'An Idea of a Phytological History Propounded, Together with a Continuation of the Anatomy of Vegetables, Particularly Prosecuted upon Roots', Nehemiah Grew (1641-1712).
Lotus root section. Gotic rose window.
CymaScope Cymatics “C” note vibrational figure. Dharma Chakra Tibetan Jewels.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
Into the lab
2. Tessellations, Plato’s five, & folding basic paper patterns.
•Collembola Poduridæ
When it exits from the water and returns back into the water, its body is covered with a thin layer of air . The oxygen of the layer of air that is consumed due to the respiration of the animal is renewed by the oxygen of the water.
AGE 14 - 19
Molecular “textures”
In a S.E.M. ( scanning electronic microscope) library, a series of bug’s epicuticular ultrastructures photos reveal her geometrical tessellation’s matrix and self-organization like a hexagons / pentagons molecular grid. The Collembola is a family of terrestrial animals that do not normally enter water. It breath under water through the thin layer of air that surrounds them, that functions like a "physical lung“.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
With simple, light models, made by common use materials, the students experiments natural geometric lay-out and 2D-3D grids. Through iconic and structural analogies, they extends to other different natural forms this basics morphological models.
KEY - WORDS: • Radiolaria • Geodetics & Buckminster Fuller • Fullerene • Polyedra
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
3D model of tubercle of Hypogastrura tullbergi
Top view Janssens, F., © 2001
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
Into the lab
One of the most effective tool In the study of the natural and artificial forms, is the experimentation of the ownerships of the five platonic polyhedra.
AGE 14 - 19
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
Into the lab
The “Virus Lab” is one of the best hit in first steps of Bionikon’s courses activities. Suggestive photos of the nanometric viral capside icosaedrica, suggest students to look at the Plato’s geometry and her regular 3D forms with a new curiosity and morphologic sensibility.
AGE 14 - 19
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Virus-LAB
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
Thin hand-made paper-folded model structure
Butterfly ‘s wing ultrastructure. Pomegranate’s draw of seeds closet package
Weaire-Phelan space model structure.
Actinomma-antarctica (microfossil) Rheotomic
computational structure Osteoporosis on bone.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
The observations on the microscopical organic and inorganic ultrastructures field, help the student to transfer information on other phenomena of various natural structures morphologic organization like seeds, barks, epidermis , organics fabrics etc. This informations, overcome the simple geometric field to push to appraise functional considerations of planning in analogy with the design, mechanical and architectural textures project.
Into the lab
Paper folded models in math research
and pixilated high-tech surfaces.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Ross Lovegrove
Some models made by
Bion ikon’s LAB students
(age 17)
forehead
back
Bionikon
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Into the lab
To learn precision in to tracing, to folding-up and to structuring paper and cardboard sheets, constitutes a fundamental footstep to make manipulated surfaces and textures as models of basic design. The ORIGAMI, MIURAORI and POP-UP BOOK folding paper techniques and engineering instructs students to do well.
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Bionikon
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Into the lab
Paper 3D surface and textures
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Bionikon
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Into the lab
Ron Resch First tasselletion’s field folding paper modeler
Palm leaves Hornbeam leaf
Algae and flower’s bud Pop-up model
Search space economy patterns
Bionikon
Into the lab In I.E.D.-Milano-Cagliari, Prof. M.Lumini have collaborated whit Prof. Carmelo Di Bartolo and Prof. Attilio Marcolli and he has developed specials projects about textures of traditional’s materials like: clay, wood, stones, orbace whool textile, natural fibers and others, for innovative forms of re-design.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
AGE 20 - 25
Into the lab
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
From “I Materiali e le Idee” I.E.D. Cagliari
Bionikon
Into the lab Through analysis and model’s building, in advanced Bionikon’s work steps, is usual transfer ideas and strategies in differents areas of innovative product design solutions.
“CORK in PROGRESS” is a search published in 1999 for
PROMEA- Cork 2000 Conference (Tempio Pausania SS)
PROMEA is a Sardinian consortium who introduces itself as high consultant along the whole chain of innovation, through promotion of research, exploitation of its outcomes at the industrial level, support to new entrepreneurial initiatives.
AGE 14 - 19
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
Into the lab
3. Bubble-soap & minimal’s surfaces geometry.
AGE 14 - 19
With the fun soap’s bubbles-LAB activities, the students draw near in direct and experimental way to the design of the minimal surface membranes. From early applications in Frei Otto’s textile architecture, the search about minimal surfaces geometry is strongly developed thanks to the inventions of sophisticated mathematical algorithms and the advances applications on computational computergraphics. But a very simple way to observe the real dinamic process of adaptation of the membranes to the superficial tension efforts is still that to fold up iron thread and to dip into a god solution of water, soap and glycerine . No one computer simulation can return the living and vital feeling of the “inorganic “ material subject in searching of a inner and fragile state of equilibrium.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
The minimal surfaces study conducts the student to observe with attention the static behavior of natural membranes as leaves, cobwebs and to understand the depth structural meaning of the natural and artificial constructions. Model of catenary curves, are made with simple material and they allow to experiment intuitive configurations of minimal static equilibrium.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
KEY-WORDS: • GAUDI’ FUNICULAR MODELS • HYPERBOLIC CURVES • COBWEBS
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
In some public demonstrations and conferences, Bionikon’s students can organize special expo-stands. In this events, “Bubbles soapLAB” represent one of the scientific and popular animations of great interest above all for the youngest public.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
4. Tensegrity & geodesic structures.
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Due to their integration through the tension network, tensegrity structures are uniquely capable of globally distributing forces and are very robust to forces applied from unexpected directions. In the up image, if one pushes down on the indicated strut, the force is globally distributed through the whole structure. Thus, there is less chance of a single component failing, as all the components share in dissipating the extra force.
“Needle Tower” - K.Snelson
In general, continuous compression structures are optimized for a single path of forces to flow through them to the ground. As long as the forces the structure will experience over its lifetime are understood, one can build support exactly where it is needed. The infrastructure that has been built is great for holding the tall walls and roof of the cathedral up. But, if you pushed on the cathedral in an unexpected direction (such as sideways on the middle of the piers as indicated with the arrow below) the structure may fail because it cannot dissipate the applied force.
“Column without end” - C. Brancusi
Weight ‘s decomposition basic exercise.
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Muscular Fascia & Tensegrity
Fascia is the fascinating biological fabric and glue that holds us together. Long ignored, the fascial system is now getting its rightful due of attention, from both therapists and researchers. Tensegrity is a geometric and energetic model of architect B.Fuller and sculptor K.Snelson. for understanding the geometry of the matter patterns. In anatomy field, on both a micro and a macro-cosmic scale, that leads to many new insights in terms of body connectivity, the relation between stability and movement, and how we can develop what might be called “Spatial Medicine”.
Kurilpa Bridge in Brisbane
Student’s study model of tensegrity behavior
Tensegrity on cinetyc body structure.
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
A cellular tensegrity model
Dr. Donald Ingber is interested in how cell structure and mechanics impact cellular biochemistry and tissue development. His research approach has combined techniques from various fields, including molecular cell biology, engineering, chemistry, physics, and computer science.
Theodore Waddel “Tensegrity table”
Cassina 1973
The students, through the images and search about the tensegrity structures, developes models who are a personal interpretation that involves anatomy, design and geometry fields.
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
How made simple
TENSEGRITY structures
The best thing to understand the elements of the geometry tensegrity is to try to do it. With some simple schemes found in internet, with broomsticks, wood joists, pipes metallic ropes and elastic, it is tried to unite the various rigid elements through the mutual tension.
Enthusiasm, job of group, saws, strings, and buttonhole screws and little boy-scouts’s spirit seasons everything.
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
The students, through the images and search about the tensegrity structures, developes models who are a personal interpretation that involves anatomy, design and geometry fields.
The tensegrity objects tactile experience is most importance step: to move an element and to observe that the whole structural net "it feels" such perturbation, immediately teaches the concept of energetic-structural net communication, better of a good theoretical lesson.
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
This great wood’s model (length meters 2,50) has been inspired by a professional project of tensostructure bridge ; the didactic objective has been to experiment the construction of a object in which all the elements have involved in a interconnected net of every element wich they are related to the others, through a tensegrity mode.
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
In the end, through the practical and building activities of this laboratory, the students draws a deep knowledge and empatic form of this innovative geometric thought in which energy, form and design are connected in a intimate form of material synergy.
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
The Sea’s curly geode Dissection and Geometrization
With the collaboration of biology teacher, the students dissect an aquatic organism to morphologically study its various structural components. The sea’s curl lent is an interesting geodetic geometrization in how much its hull has form of a cap submitted to constant pressure. GEODESIC light model are made to complete the bionics analysis.
Bionikon
Into the lab AGE 14 - 19
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bucky’s geometry experimenting
Bionikon
Into the lab
“To similarity of those of the living ones, the parts of the building must be subordinate to the everything and in agreement the one with the others [...] in the same measure in which they satisfy functions specifications and different“ L.B.AlbertI “De re aedificatoria”, 1485
AGE 14 - 19
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
In the study of the history of the art, the architecture of the humanism sets to the attention of the student the idea of analogy among body and building. Because is not a superfluous analogy, the study of this fundamental idea, it start from the body geometric and ergonomic analysis of the same students. The first key words of serch are: module - measure - coordination - golden section.
The Definitor
Regulator traceds in humanistic architecture
The first step consists of showing students the reality meaning of the shown geometry dawed in “Vitruvian Man” (homo ad circulum - homo ad quadratus)
5. Bones like architectures.
The Parthenons Golden Section modularity Da Vinci’s anatomical draw
Bionikon
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
KEY - WORDS: •D’Arcy W. Thompson’s “On Growth and Form” • Strenght forces’s resultant • Gotic nerve-net skeleton
Bone’s iconic theme, approach to the unloaded of the strengths in bridges, architectural structures and organic bodies functionality, it immediately makes visible the models of gravity’s center and strengths static unloading.
Trabecualae’s ogival “bullet” lattice in a human femur’s bone and analogy with
gotic architectonic elements
Bionikon
Into the lab A femur’s interview
The anatomical bones’s study in biology school’s books, doesn't consider the analysis of the mechanical and structural aspects. Bones are modeled by invisible forces and is very formative for a young student to observe and to understand the dynamics of cellular design that the nature risks for allowing the human body to dynamically interact with the strength of gravity and the complex interactions of the strengths fluxus. ( reference to Tensegrity step.) Besides, in the scholastic study of the architecture, the student doesn't perceive the differents structures like elements of an “alive” organism that fights and acts under continous effort. The elements of crossovered analogy among the two trials is how to analyze the ways of the strengths they model the growth and the design of the differents forms and the subjects. In this bionics topic, bones are considered like architectures and vice-versa.
AGE 14- 19
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
KEY - WORDS: • WEIGHT • TRABECULAR STRUCTURE • TOUR EIFFEL FEMUR-LIKE DESIGN
Bionikon
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
The real history of the design of Eiffel's tower begins almost 40 years before her construction.
Diagram of the lines of stress in the upper femur, based upon the mathematical analysis of the right femur. These result from the combination of the different kinds of stresses at each point in the femur.
The anatomist Hermann von Meyer in 1850 was studying the junction of the hip. He was particularly interested in the form of the head of the femur, and since like a great range of movements was providing in the appropriate planes. He also observed that the head of the femur was a minuscule latticework of bones so called trabecula (Plural trabeculae).
In 1866, von Meyer demonstrated his results to Karl Cullman, Swiss engineer. Cullman was working designing big derricks, and he saw immediately that the trabeculae were concentrated more in the highest areas of tension of the femur. On having seen it he said, " This one is my derrick! ". Concluding that the femur was shaped perfectly to support an eccentric load. 20 years later while the famous tower was designed, Maurice Koechlin, assistant of the architect Eiffel, inspired by this Cullman's study. There used a latticework of stud bolts and of supports to support the structure curled of the tower, similar to the way that the trabeculae support the curves in the head of the femur.
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Bionikon
Some fundamental observations make very curious the Bionikon’s students in how much neither in the books of history of the art, neither in the books of biology can be seen photos as these .
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Principal compressive group
Principal tensile group
Secondary compressive group
After having understood the femur’s bio-mechanics dynamics, the students build a wood’s light model of trabecular isostatic grid lines. Intuitive static tests and hand-made verifications on his model, clearly communicate the efficiency and the mechanical optimization of a like lattice structure.
Bionikon
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Lightness and resistance in birds bones A cross section of an eagle’s humerus, and the simple but effective model realized with tetraedron inserted in a pipe of plexiglass, illustrates with effectiveness the system to Warren’s beam of the trabecolae that has the tendency to build a sharp pain net of small calcareous triangular beams. Various arch.&design exemples show the light-weigth use of triangle grid structure.
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Bionikon
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
To think the light brittleness Lightness is not synonymous of brittleness: a basic-design that it allows to practice the light one to think it consists of planning and to build a framed shelter made for parceling of an egg with small bamboo’s canes . The verification of the success of this project consists of launching it from a certain height and to verify its behavior. If the egg resite to the crash impact, that confirms the project ‘s correctness..
AGE 14- 19
Bionikon
From 1999 to 2009 I have developed a
collaboration with SSIS (Scuola di Specializzazione Insegnanti Scuola Superiore) near Università degli Studi of Cagliari. As contract professor, I have organized a series of academic courses and practical laboratories of “Morphology and figuration’s theory“. This subject is based on the Paul Klee’s theoretical reflections and practices (when it taught to the Bauhaus ) and a personal Cymatics and bionic mix. Natural’s forms drawing and analysis whas the most meaningful of the practical activities.
AGE 14 - 25
Into the lab
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
6. Drawing natural forms.
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Bionikon
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Bionikon
Into the lab
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
7. Bionics: bugs’s nests like design models.
Termite workers build and maintain nests to house their colony. These are elaborate structures made using a combination of soil, mud, chewed wood/cellulose, saliva, and faeces. Nests are commonly built underground, in large pieces of timber, inside fallen trees or on top of living trees.
Termite nest cut in half. This nest was built by Apicotermes termites. These are social insects found in Africa. Social insects form a colony of numerous individuals that can display collective behaviour, like building complex nest structures. This oval underground nest (about 20 centimetres across) is built from soil and woody material. Both the internal (left) and external (right) structures are seen. External holes ventilate the horizontal layered passages. These are connected by internal spiral staircases (vertical areas seen at left). Termite colonies consist of a queen and king and numerous worker termites.
AGE 14 - 19
Step 1: SEARCH
Bionikon
Into the lab
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
In the construction of the termite nest, there are supplementary systems such as air-conditioners, humidifiers and ventilators. Furthermore, for the different parts of the nest, different temperatures are set and maintained. The temperature and carbon dioxide content of circulating air vary depending on location within the termite nest:40 A: 86°F (30°C) - 2.7% CO2 B: 77°F (25°C) - 2.7% CO2 C: 75°F (24°C) - 0.8% CO2
6 meters high
AGE 14 - 19
Step 1: SEARCH
Natural climatization
Bionikon
Into the lab
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Wind towers (Badgir) are important elements in traditional Iranian architecture, providing natural air-conditioning in hot, dry and humid climates for thousands of years. THEY INTRODUCE IMPRESSIVE ANALOGIES WITH THE TERMITES CONSTRUCTIONS.
AGE 14 - 19
Step 2: ANALOGY
Bionikon
Into the lab
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
AGE 14 - 19
Step 3: MODELING
Bionikon
Into the lab
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
AGE 14 - 19
Step 4:
PROBLEM SETTING
In 1997 a powerful earthquake strikes heavely Umbria regions
For months and months, winter and summer time, the population lived in emergency steel containers, turned to temporary houses.
For months and months, winter and summer time, the population lived in emergency steel containers, turned to temporary houses. The period newspapers reported the hard conditions of too cold and too warm uneasiness they poorly tormented peoples who lived in bad isolated steel boxes.
The students were stricken from the scarce attention to the problem and thinking about the system conditioning of the nests of the termites, they had the idea to develop a hypothesis of project that was inspired to the technical and architectural solutions used by the small bugs
Bionikon
Into the lab
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012 The inside aveolar termite’s nest
structure inspires a first project of a composite light-sandwich of biologic materials as cork, wood and bio-compatible adhesive for the construction of a passive wrap insulating. Technologic model performance is taked by Trombe-Michel solar passive wall.
AGE 14 - 19
Step 5:
PROBLEM SOLVING
Massimo Lumini - Bionikon 2012
Mr. Massimo Lumini, is available to teaching and search collaborations with University
Departments, Schools, Institutes and Industries that desire to experiment a LAB-
didactics, professional formation’s stages, courses or lectures based on the Bionikon’s
project suggestions and developed topics as is described in the present brochure or
for specific demands with the buyer.
For contacts please call 00393293984003 Italy
Mail: [email protected]
