A Bio-Cultural Biomimetic Framework for Climate-Responsive Building Envelopes in Hot and Arid Environments

Integrating Biological Mechanisms and Saoura Vernacular Knowledge

Resumen

Building envelopes in hot-arid climates are often labelled biomimetic on the basis of formal analogy, while source mechanisms, operating limits, and evaluation routes remain underreported. This conceptual study develops and illustratively applies a framework for combining biological evidence with situated knowledge from the Saoura region of Algeria. An illustrative purposive evidence sample connects biomimetic design methods, climate-responsive envelopes, four biological source systems, and Saoura vernacular architecture. The Desert Biomimicry Model (DBM) stores linked source records, while the Desert Biomimetic Design Logic (DBDL) guides Observation, Abstraction, context-gate decision, Application, and feedback. An author-developed Function–Form–Process–Environment/context (FFPE) schema separates documented claims from interpretation. Persistent identifiers link source records (SR), abstracted rules (AR), propositions (P), and prospective evaluation specifications (ES); the matrices also record an accept, modify, defer, or reject decision for each transfer. The analysis corrects common simplifications: beetle fog collection is treated as a taxon-bounded behavioural and fluid-mechanical process; ....