marks barfield architectsLondon, England

The architecture of David Marks and Julia Barfield evokes a strong relationship between architecture and engineering derived from a fascination with structure. The Bridge of the Future Competition specified that the bridge design, intended to span the Grand Canyon, should be linked with nature. They sought inspiration from the spine of a dinosaur, leading to an investigation of how the spine functioned and accommodated the forces of compression and tension.

“in general, no organic forms exist, save as are in conformity with physical and mathematical laws.”

“… the general resemblance, both in structure and in function, of the quadrupedal backbone with its associated ligaments to a double-armed cantilever girder … the great cantilever system is not of necessity constituted by the vertebral column and its ligaments alone but that of the pelvis … helping to carry the load of the viscera, it constitutes a great portion of the posterior cantilever arm.

Sir D’Arcy Thompson 1860-1948Scottish mathematical biologistAuthor, “On Growth and Form”

Biomimicry - WWND