The workshop was hosted by BioWise on Monday, January 28 with members of the design team and various specialists in complementary fields putting their heads together to brainstorm the conceptual design of such a park and all that it will incorporate.
If the project gets off the ground, it will be the first of its kind in South Africa and will serve as a major educational tool to demonstrate to people how nature has all the answers and how modern science and technology is moving away from costly, destructive and polluting structures and systems towards efficient, waste-free nature-inspired alternatives!
Local naturalist, Mark Dixon, provided fascinating information to members of the design team and interested and affected parties, concerning the local environment and its inhabitants whose 'genius' will help inform the conceptual design for BioWise's proposed Biomimicry Discovery Park. Ensuring that environmental concerns and considerations are incorporated at design phase, the park will be a development that has a positive impact on the environment and landscape in which it will be located.
"Biomimicry is a fascinating science! Nature has been perfecting its designs for 3.8 billion years and if we want to create a better world, it's simply a question of looking at the answers Nature has already provided us with!" enthuses Sue Swain of BioWise. "Nature provides master crafters, benign manufacturers and amazing alchemists from whom an endless wealth of information is available to us."
_544834578.jpg)
Local naturalist, Mark Dixon gives an informative talk as part of a Genius of Place exercise conducted during a recent workshop to discuss the Biomimicry Discovery Park. From left are Mike Munnik (AGAMA Energy), architect Wynand Vivier (Brink Stokes Mkhize), Mark Dixon (Garden Route Trails), Knysna Municipality's senior enviromental officer Joclyn Fearon, architect Mick Pearce, civil/structural engineer Richard Lamb with Wendy Dewberry of Noetzie Conservancy and Claire Janisch.
