SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

What is Organic
in Architecture
Mondira Ganguly

Lotus temple

he term “organic architecture” was
Integrating human
habitat with the
natural world.
T coined by the famous architect,
Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959).
Presently organic architecture forms the
foundation and mother of all architec-
ture – sustainable architecture, alterna-
tive architecture, ecology, bio architec-
ture and so on. Organic architecture
develops itself from inside to outside,
from the interior life (that flows in space)
to outdoor. Primitive vernacular archi-
tecture was innately organic, based on
natural forms and structures and simple
local materials. Patterns and forms in
nature such as the spiral and fractal are
products of internal laws of growth and
of the action of external forces such as
sun, wind and water. In modern &
post modern period, many eminent
Architects have all set out, in their differ-
ent ways to display order, harmony, hier-
archy and orthogonal form. Their work
shares some organic interests in the use
of fractal geometry.

22 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People October 2008

WHAT IS ORGANIC
ARCHITECTURE?
Organic architecture is the outcome of
the feelings of life, like integrity, freedom,
fraternity, harmony, beauty, joy and love.
It is a philosophy of architecture which
promotes harmony between human
habitation and the natural world through
design approaches. It is well integrated
with its site and has a unified, interrelated
composition consisting of buildings and
its surroundings.
ECOLOGICAL + INDIVIDUAL’S
= ORGANIC
Organic Architecture does describe envi-
ronmental concerns. It also embodies the
human spirit, transcending the mere act
of providing shelter from surroundings
which shapes and enhances our lives.
Organic Architecture describes an expres-
sion of individuality. It also explores our
need to connect to nature. Organic
Architecture is not a style of imitation but
rather a reinterpretation of nature’s prin-
ciples to build forms more natural than
nature itself.
holds the promise of achieving a com-
patible and sustainable relationship
between people, nature and the human
built environment, It is interlinked with
Sustainable Architecture, which means
any building to be designed with envi-
ronmental goals in mind. Sustainable
Architecture seeks to minimize the neg-
ative environmental impact of buildings
by enhancing efficiency and moderation
in the use of materials, energy and
developmental space.
EXPLORING ORGANIC
ARCHITECTURE
Primitive vernacular architecture was
innately organic, based on natural forms
and structures and simple local materials.
Patterns and forms in nature such as the
spiral and fractal are products of internal
laws of growth and of the action of exter-
nal forces such as sun, wind and water.
Temperature flows also behave better in
curvilinear interiors. It gives respect to
natural materials blending into the sur-
roundings and honest expression of the
function of the building with relation of
each piece to the whole and the whole to
the surroundings.
David Pearson proposed a list of rules,
known as the Gaia Charter for organic
architecture and design -
1. Let the design be inspired by nature
and sustainable, healthy, conserving
and diverse.
2. Unfold like an organism from the
seed within.
3. Exist in the “continuous present” and
“begin again and again.”
4. Follow the flows and be flexible and
adaptable.
5. Satisfy social, physical and spiritual
needs.
6. Grow out of site and be unique.
7. Express the rhythm of music and the
power of dance.
8. Celebrate the spirit of youth, play
and surprise.

OBJECTIVES
It is not a style, but unique and unre-
peatable because it is related to the
man, site and time (three variables).It is
visually poetic, radical, idiosyncratic and
environmentally known, multifaceted,
flexible and surprising. It is a total har-
monized blending of outdoor and
indoor space. It promotes a more posi-
tive link between man and nature.
Organic Architecture is influenced by
Biophilia (love of life – nature or living
system). Organic shapes and forms that
elicit a human affinity for nature. It has
more of a vernacular approach.
Vernacular is a characteristic style com-
mon to a particular region, culture or
period. Vernacular Architecture consists
of buildings or landscapes that affirm a
distinctive material, affinity for place and ParqueGuell, Gaudi

October 2008 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People 23

 Architects Gustav Stickley, Antoni upon us either past, present or future. In modern & post modern period,
Gaudi, F.L. Wright, Louis Sullivan, Bruce There should be marriage in between Frank O Gehry, Peter Eisenman,
Goff, Rudolf Steiner, Bruno Zevi and the site and the structure and a union in Remkoolhaas, Zaha Hadid have all set
most recently Anton Alberts and Laurie between the context and the structure. out, in their different ways to display
Baker are all famous for their work relat- Architecture has an inherent relation- order, harmony, hierarchy and orthogo-
ed to Organic Architecture. ship with both its site and its time. A nal form. Their work shares some organic
(1868-1959) Architect, Frank Lloyd building is a product of its place and its interests in the use of fractal geometry.
Wright who coined the term ‘Organic time intimately, connected to a particu- Fractal geometry describes natural
Architecture’ designed the famous resi- lar moment and site, which is never be shapes and rhythms such as snowflakes,
dence, ‘Falling Water’ for Kaufman family the result of an imposed style. leaves, tree branches, mountains, waves
in Pensylvania. The house is directly over
the waterfall and creek, creating a close,
yet noisy dialog with the rushing water
and the steep site. The horizontal stria-
tions of stone masonry with daring can-
tilevers of colored beige concrete blend
with native rock outcroppings and the
wood environment.
‘Taliesin West in Arizona expresses
F.L.Wright’s theories of organic architec-
ture. Organic architecture strives to inte-
grate space into a unified whole. FLW
was not concerned with architectural
style, because he believed that every
building should grow naturally from its
environment and it should exalt the sim-
ple laws of common sense, or of super
sense if we prefer determining form by
way of the nature of materials, non cher-
ishing any preconceived form fixing Falling Water - FLW’s creation

Taliesin West Casa Mila, Gaudi

24 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People October 2008

and coast lines. Applied to architecture,
rhythm and composition become fractal.
In the later half of the twentieth century,
modernist architects took the concept of
organic architecture to new heights, by
using new forms of concrete and can-
tilevered trusses. Architects could create
swooping arches without visible beams
or pillars. Modern organic designs are
never linear or rigidly geometric. Instead
wavy lines and curved shapes suggest
natural forms, because most of the natu-
ral aspects are curvilinear and asymmetri-
cal in shape. Antonio Gaudi, Spanish
architect designed sculpturally the cre-
Sydney Opera House, John Utzon
ative and irregular organic form.
Mainstream architecture is also from the concept of natural form of white The concept of organic architecture
adopting outward organic forms. More sea shell or with the white sails in the har- is experienced by Rem Koolhaas
liberated and imaginative forms unac- bour or unfolding petals. with overall coherence and it can turn
ceptable to major corporate clients a few The World Trade Center Transporta- the tensions and contradictions into a
years ago are now actively sought The tion Terminal proposed by Spanish new quality.
phenomenon of anthropomorphic archi- architect, Santiago Calatrava also rep- Zambian vernacular architecture is
tecture (organ like building) relates to resents modernist approach to organic organic, beautiful and most importantly
biological phenomena and has to detach architecture. Patrick Blanc overgrows comfortably integrated with the local cli-
itself from the rectangular rationality of the vertical surfaces of buildings in the mate, culture and harvest cycles.
traditional building language. A free pat- most beautiful way. His vertical garden Organic Architecture has a major
tern that changes all the time emerges. could rather be called eco-art or green- role in the improvement of any city
The Sydney Opera House by John Utzon er architecture consisting of a variety of .When any city expands due to develop-
is a modernist approach to organic plants trailing gently up any interior or ment and industrial growth, the con-
architecture. The design idea evolves outside wall. centration of people in the city will

Vertical garden, Patrick Blanc

October 2008 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People 25

 aesthetically appealing,
but enhance the space
with the spirit of adven-
ture and curiosity.
In India the famous
architect Laurie Baker
designed the buildings
with local materials,
keeping the essence of
organic architecture
which is more comfort-
able to the inhabitants
with natural surround-
ings. The buildings are
aesthetically beautiful,
low-cost and high quality.
The design of brick jali
works promotes natural
air movement to cool the
homes interior and create
intricate patterns of light
and shadow.
The other eminent
Indian Architect, Nari
Gandhi uses ‘art of craft’
in order to achieve an
organic and sensorial
architecture with an
ethos towards the spiritu-
CDS in Trivandrum, Lauric Baker
al. In his design of
grow. Thus there will be a lack of con- of nature. In the city the free-flowing Gobhai Mountain lodge, he explores a
tact between human and nature. Luigi and curvilinear movement channels jewel like exercise in geometry and sim-
Fiumara says that the living Organic depict the natural organic form, plicity. Geometries themselves develop
Architecture tries to bring the qualities which are not only interesting and from the nature of the two distant

Gobhai Mountain Lodge, Nari Gandhi

26 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People October 2008


Lotus temple, Fariborz Sahba
views, the Rajmachi hilltop fort and
the Valvan lake below, which the
verandahs overlook. The roof of the
east face is pressed down to redirect
the airflow of the prevailing south-
west winds.
Fariborz Sahba designed the Bahai
temple in Delhi, in the natural form of
lotus, which is again the modernist
approach of organic architecture, like
Sydney Opera House.
TZED Homes
TZED homes in Bangalore by BCIL are
a residential project consisting of envi-
ronmentally sustainable and aesthetically
sound homes for ninety-five families. It is
an integrated approach with several
innovative systems to minimize environ-
mental impact. Every aspect of TZED has
been designed to conserve the natural
resources and to have minimal impact on
the environment. Fresh air input and
builtin energy efficient lights are among
October 2008 ARCHITECTURE - Time Space & People 27
the features. Natural building materials,
like stone and mud, fly ash blocks, laterite
blocks are used.
We propose that all architecture
should be organic, individual, and eco-
logical. The solution of every problem is
contained within itself. Its plan, form
and character are determined by the
nature of the site, the nature of the
materials used, the nature of the system
using them, the nature of the life con-
cerned and the purpose of the building
itself. A building should grow from its
site as nature grows from the inside out
and shaped by the forces which sur-
round it. The nature of the material
should be expressed throughout the
building as inherent to their quality and
ability. Nature inspires our work and our
actions. By creating a place which com-
plements the environment, other sys-
tems will begin to regenerate.
Many more organic building are now
being designed with an increased eco-
logical awareness to incorporate low
energy, sustainable, recycled materials,
energy saving systems and the concept
of bio-philia which can reduce stress,
improve physical and mental health of
inhabitants.
Organic architecture is an honest
expressive dynamic form of natural mate-
rials, natural light and ventilations, inte-
grated with its surrounding landscape.
REFERENCES
1. Design with nature –
by Ken Yeang.
2. Biomorphic Architecture –
by Gunther Fenerstein.
3. 100 Contemporary Architects –
by Bill Lacy. ■
Mondira Ganguly, Architect
Urban Designer and Assistant
Professor.
Photographs: Courtesy the
Author.