Date of Submission
Spring 5-12-2026
Degree Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Architecture
Department
Architecture
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Arief B. Setiawan, Ph.D.
Abstract
The Everglades Ecosystem is a slow moving river of grasses, encompassing 1.5 million acres from Lake Okeechobee southward to the Florida Bay. The ecosystem is a constant mosaic of gradient habitats, flowing from fresh to saltwater and from grasslands to forest, creating both resiliency, but also an interdependence. All ecosystems possess keystone species, who help to define how the ecosystem is shaped and behaves. In my thesis, I explore several keystone species within the Everglades, namely the mangroves, the family crocodilia, and the roseate spoonbill, and how formal translations of these organisms can produce functional biomimetic buildings that give back to the environment, rather than take away from it.
In nature, we find that form is inseparable from efficiency—a pragmatic condition where an organism’s morphology or form is directly influenced by its ability to survive and reproduce. I argue that biomimetic architecture should operate similarly, where form is indicative of building and system performance rather than just symbolic intent. I also ask how the Everglades keystone species can inform new models for biomimetic design, and how formal exploration can meaningfully contribute to environmental systems and building performance.
This thesis demonstrates that biomimicry becomes more rigorous and impactful when grounded in specific ecosystems and organisms rather than abstract metaphor. By reframing the Everglades as a design teacher rather than a static object, this work positions ecosystem-based biomimicry as a critical framework for entering the ecological age.