Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Fifth-year students from the RUDN University Engineering Academy, Anastasia Dolgopolova and Alexandra Stebleva, successfully represented the university at the international architectural competition, Insectitecture. The jury awarded their modular housing project a special mention. It is based on an in-depth study of the construction principles of colonial insects.
The competition participants were tasked with creating a residential structure based on the architecture of termite, bee, ant, and other colonial insect habitats. The RUDN University students found the idea not only original but also opening up new possibilities for sustainable architecture.
"Comparing insect and human habitats proved to be very informative, and we learned many principles of construction and spatial organization from the species we studied," says Anastasia Dolgopolova.
Biomimicry in detail
The project was the result of extensive research. The girls didn't simply copy the form, but transferred the functional principles of insect habitats to the human dimension.
The idea of modularity and convenient cell docking was inspired by bees. The team improved on the natural form, creating an octagonal capsule that allows for more efficient use of space. Anthills inspired the creation of a full-fledged residential complex within a single structure. As in nature, the project includes not only living quarters but also social units with infrastructure. A ventilation system in the termite mounds, which maintains a constant temperature, helped the team design efficient technical compartments.
"It was surprising to realize that insects were creating such complexes long before humans began constructing full-fledged residential complexes. A single anthill contains everything its inhabitants could need," says Anastasia Dolgopolova.
Throughout the competition, the students received great support from their academic supervisor, Vladimir Vorobyov.
"He was with us at every stage of development: he held weekly consultations, communicated outside of class, helped with the project description, and offered advice on technical implementation," says Anastasia Dolgopolova.
Universal modules for living
The main idea of the competition entry was to create not a single building, but an entire system consisting of four types of units: residential, transit, technical, and public. The girls developed three project designs: a compact private home, a multi-story student dormitory, and a single-story boarding house for people with disabilities.
"Residential blocks are formed from a basic residential module and can be one- or two-story, depending on the number of residents. Transition blocks can be horizontal (used as corridors) or vertical (serving as stairwells and elevator shafts). Public blocks are larger, of similar scale but varying lengths, and serve a wide variety of functions: they can serve as a greenhouse, a kindergarten, a gym, or an administrative block. Overall, the blocks are designed with an open floor plan and can be adapted to various purposes. They have only two different shapes, but there are glazing options, and a suitable option can be found for any function required by the developer," says Anastasia Dolgopolova.
The student notes that this approach paves the way for centralized production of prefabricated modules and their rapid on-site assembly, making construction more cost-effective and efficient.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.