Critical Conversations: bridging pathways forward to greater understanding and creative solutions.

Nature-Inspired Spatial Membranes: An Alternative Passive Cooling Strategy

By Renata Milton

"This project explores the intersection of biomimicry, biophilic design and biomaterials to address thermal comfort and environmental sustainability within interior spaces. The focus is on integrating living systems—such as evaporative cooling, water filtration, and climate-responsive solutions—into the programming itself, redefining interior design as both aesthetic and functional architecture. The core of the project lies in leveraging natural processes and biomaterials to create adaptable, efficient, and harmonious environments that connect occupants to nature while addressing climate challenges.

By embedding sustainable systems directly into the design, this project engages with broader conversations in the interior design field surrounding the need for eco-conscious and resource-efficient spaces. It challenges conventional boundaries, offering a paradigm shift in how interiors are conceived—not as static decor but as active systems participating in environmental resilience. This work contributes to discussions on the responsibility of designers in addressing pressing global issues, such as climate change, water scarcity, and sustainable urban living, and aligns with the growing movement toward regenerative design practices.

The impact of this project lies in its potential to influence future design methodologies by demonstrating the integration of natural processes with spatial programming. By bridging theoretical innovation and practical application, it provides a framework for creating interior spaces that are not only visually compelling but also environmentally impactful, fostering a new generation of designs that embody harmony, sustainability, and functionality."

Interior design board titled “Nature-Inspired Spatial Membranes: An Alternative Passive Cooling Strategy.” Top left features a circular diagram showing the cycle of urban heat and climate dynamics. Top right maps the Urban Heat Island Effect, linking global warming, land use, and human disconnection from nature. Bottom left explains three biomimicry levels: form, behavior, and ecosystem learning. Bottom right presents nature-inspired mechanisms—such as cactus cones, moss capillary action, and termite tunnels—translated into design principles for water harvesting, cooling, and efficient structure building.
Design presentation board titled “Nature-Inspired Spatial Membranes: An Alternative Passive Cooling Strategy.” The top left section shows a diagram of the design concept linking passive cooling to microclimate via biomaterials and biomimicry. The top right section features precedent analysis of Park Güell by Gaudí, with diagrams and images explaining rainwater channeling. Bottom left includes sketches of design explorations with hexagonal moss modules and mirrored vessels. Bottom right shows annotated sketches of structural modules designed for water absorption, cooling, and air flow using clay and porous materials.
Image of an architectural interior design presentation board titled “Nature-Inspired Spatial Membranes: An Alternative Passive Cooling Strategy.” The board displays modular shelving and planter systems using hexagonal units. On the left, labeled “Shelving Module,” are diagrams and renderings of hexagonal units filled with books and plants. Technical drawings detail their structure. On the right, “Pivoting Planter Module” shows a rotating hexagonal unit with clay and moss for passive cooling, including exploded views. At the bottom, renderings show the full shelving system on the left and pivoting planter wall modules on the right, both accompanied by human silhouettes for scale.