Nature designs

What strategies have animals developed to shape their environment according to their needs? What materials do they use for their constructions? How do their building activities affect their habitat – and what can we humans learn from this for our own construction and production processes?
The first exhibition at the Bavarian Natural History Museum's Future Lab illustrates that humans are not the only species capable of constructing complex and elaborate structures and buildings. Other animals have also developed ingenious techniques to catch prey or protect themselves and their offspring from heat, cold or enemy attacks.
At the same time, the structures and growth processes of other living beings have always served as a source of inspiration and a model for human constructions. Some species of wasps, for example, chew wood fibres to produce a paper-like substance made of cellulose for their nests. This observation led to the development of industrial paper production from wood in the 19th century. Conversely, other animals also use human or man-made materials for their structures – for example, hair, plastic and metal parts, which are woven into bird nests alongside twigs, lichen or clay.
"Nature Designs" shows how the building practices of different creatures are intertwined and encourages reflection. Human building and production practices have a particularly serious impact on all life on Earth. What strategies could we humans use to steer development in a positive direction and preserve valuable, species-rich habitats?

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Last edited on 19.02.2026