The nature of architecture

Initially driven by the general aim to discuss the analogies between biology and architecture, this essay compares the concept of performance as it applies in these two fields. Performance is approached along with related terminology such as metabolism and function. It further evokes historical precedents of interdisciplinary research dated since the early days of modernism, mainly applied for the development of systems. Systems are recently brought into attention along with the appointment of digitally-based methods set for analysis, rule defining, dynamic simulation and composition. In reflection of the above, this essay addresses biology's influences in architecture in three main areas. These are stated as a recurring interest in structuralism, the primacy of behaviour over aesthetics and the generative aspect of design