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How can I incorporate biology and architecture in to an experiment?

For my biology class we have to do an experiment for a science fair project later this year. My teacher said to pick something you're really interested in because we'll be working on this for the rest of the year. Im really interested in architecture but i don't know how to make it relevant to bio and how to create experiment out of it. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions please help me out!

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1. I read a book on this once. It was fascinating. One thing I remember being mentioned was the veins of the leaf of the giant water lily help it support a lot of weight (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_%28waterlily%29). The Victoria Regina leaf is like a planned piece of architecture. It is three or more feet wide with strong heavy bars and crossbars of a heavy fibrous growth on the underside of the leaf. The entire edge of this great leaf turns up about two inches. A snapshot of me standing on a piece of plywood fitted to the top of the leaf shows how we avoided breaking through. The leaf can hold a hundred pounds or more. Here's some starting points: There is a download available at http://www.osti.gov/bridge/purl.cover.jsp;jsessionid=E2E2AE20425B4D0BF0C8BE4B52B834AC?purl=/50987-LQMA6F/webviewable/
2. Think of a design problem in a structure then ask if nature has already found a solution. How animals, plants & fungi fit their niche can suggest solutions to problems. Now look at some examples of innovations impacted by evolved adaptations. Look at the system modeled on how termite mounds achieve a constant internal temperature and humidity control with no energy source. The passive system is called a labyrinth cooling based on biomimicry of what termites have adapted to use after millennia of evolution. Countercurrent flows to exchange heat are used in nature to conserve body heat and to exchange spent gases for fresh. Buildings using termite mound inspired design include the Davies Alpine glasshouse in Kew Garden London http://www.architecture.com/Awards/RIBAAwards/Winners2006/London/TheDaviesAlpineHouseKew.aspx Air is drawn into an underground tunnel over a large exposed corrugated concrete surface. Cold night air cools the tunnel surfaces so warm daytime air is in turn cooled during its slow passage before entering the alpine plant house. Internal shades can reduce the direct solar heating as well as ceiling vents to release warmed air. http://www.architectureweek.com/2006/1025/design_1-2.html http://blog.iesve.com/index.php/2009/09/18/labyrinth/ http://www.bdcnetwork.com/article/atelier-ten-learning-white-ant Designing from nature using biomimicry is reducing time to find tested materials for our use. http://brainz.org/15-coolest-cases-biomimicry/ http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/janine_benyus_shares_nature_s_designs.html http://www.biomimicryinstitute.org/ http://www.asknature.org/ Reinventing buildings with biomimicry http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:XgoPeBiONZsJ:aiauk.org/2010-01-25_Michael%2520Pawlyn%2520Lecture.pdf+biomimicry+architecture&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShTbYlNSuoXLM0Sd8C-yIpI4ZniY_KBODnCgO75-z3GXUy_PF0unIhB7t8DbknuxCtvmVfsm1IqtX0IOlCsvaq1Q6sMZGDFZSZxigtEDfrmFSaucJ1gXsnxxesfyQ8yThWk9DwR&sig=AHIEtbS16YDz1_UNxpRMx9mBUQ7aBpuSJA http://sensingarchitecture.com/3848/reinventing-buildings-with-biomimicry-my-pine-cone/ Buildings designed to use the predominant air flows and set to use solar influx can be very energy efficient http://www.greenarchitext.com/2008/03/windy-city-wind.html The nose cone of a high speed train is modeled after a high speed diving birds beak http://blog.hanrahanmeyers.com/2009/10/hma-research-biomimicry-and-designfont.html Architects look at designs repeatedly tested for efficiency by fauna Designs Inspired by 5 Animals - part 2 Storage room design based on rodent burrows http://www.ymag.it/schede.asp?id=1659 Designs Inspired by 5 Animals - part 1 Combining faunal concepts http://www.ymag.it/schede.asp?id=1184 Designs Inspired by 5 Animals - part 3 http://www.ymag.it/schede.asp?id=1948 part 4 Beavers redesign ecosystems without fatal disruptions by their use of water. Learning from other engineers. http://www.ymag.it/schede.asp?id=2308 Part 5 integrating urban need for space with keeping stable mature ecologies http://www.ymag.it/schede.asp?id=2980
3. There are some buildings that mimic the biology of nature. This could be the focus of your project. For example, there are buildings with shading devices that adjust to the time of day. Also, there are buildings that function like small eco-systems so that they are self sufficient in terms of power and waste.This could be an interesting subject that would tie nicely into Biology. Sustainable architecture.