A methodology for teaching architectural design combining two very prolific fields in architecture is presented: Biomimetics and tectonics. Biomimetics refers to the borrowing inspiration in models, systems and elements of nature to solve more complex human problems. In architecture, it is a philosophy that seeks solutions, not from the replication of natural forms, but from the understanding of the rules that govern these forms (Pohl and Nachtigall, 2015).

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The field of tectonics focuses on the relationship between design and know-how as an element of manifesting the cultural identity of a people (Frampton, 1995), which can be applied to equipment, mechanisms and systems and is also used in the areas of design, design product and engineering. The union of these two fields reflects the experiences in teaching a 3rd year architectural design studio for three semesters, leading to results that seem to indicate the effectiveness of this intersection of knowledge in design practice, facilitating the development of relatively complex architectural projects, even in the intermediate stage of architecture school.

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Combining the referred fields with a strong emphasis on site analysis, the methodology encompasses ten stages, as follows: (1) lectures on biomimetics and tectonics; (2) physical or virtual visit to the site; (3) site analysis in quadrants by drawings sketches focusing on topography, vegetative mass, physical limits, landmarks, geometric patterns, and textures; (4) interpretative stereotomic and framework site models aiming to create a perceptional tridimensional patchwork of the territory; (5) photographic record of the models; (6) extraction of typical sections from models in order to understand their geometry and further transpose them to digital media; (7) building a precise physical model of the site; (8) seminars by groups of students on generative design and biomorphic structures (Agkathidis, 2016; 2017), to support the architectural parti; (9) start of the preliminary study based on the models, now exposed to conditions of scale, suitability to the site, structure and program; (10) specific technical workshops, pin-ups and critiques focusing on project development, including the construction of more detailed 3d prototypes of the building and at least one key structural detail.