Bio-Architectural Blueprint - Part 4: Biomimicry in Action-The Eastgate Centre
Bio-Architectural Blueprint: Lessons from Termite Mounds 1 Bio-Architectural Blueprint - Part 1: Diurnal Cycles and Convective Ventilation 2 Bio-Architectural Blueprint - Part 2: Solar Geometry and Thermal Gradients 3 Bio-Architectural Blueprint - Part 3: Internal Architecture Revealed by Tomography 4 Bio-Architectural Blueprint - Part 4: Biomimicry in Action-The Eastgate Centre 5 Bio-Architectural Blueprint - Part 5: Computational Modeling for Future Applications ← Series Home The Problem of the Glass Block In the early 1990s, when architect Mick Pearce was hired to design the largest office and retail building in Harare, Zimbabwe, he faced a paradoxical dilemma. Traditional large commercial buildings—often termed “big glass blocks”—rely heavily on expensive, energy-intensive air conditioning systems to maintain comfortable temperatures. These mechanical systems not only increase operating costs but also recycle air, leading to high levels of internal air pollution. Given the investment group’s reluctance to finance costly mechanical air conditioning, Pearce was tasked with a seemingly impossible challenge: designing a massive building that could cool itself naturally. ...