Petra Gruber is a researcher and educator in architecture and biodesign. She holds a PhD in “Biomimetics in Architecture” from the Vienna University of Technology in Austria and worked internationally on three continents in inter- and transdisciplinary design, research, and education, at the intersection of biology, architecture, and art. She taught CAD, studio design, building construction and vernacular architecture at the Vienna University of Technology and the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. At the University of Applied Sciences in Villach she co-designed and taught in the program “Bionics in Energy Systems”. She was a research fellow at the Center for Biomimetics at The University of Reading, UK. In her own office “transarch” she has been leading research projects in traditional architecture and on spatial and functional aspects of biological structures for biomimetic innovation in architecture and the built environment.
From 2012-2015 she held a long-term visiting professorship at the Ethiopian Institute for Architecture, Building Construction and City Development EiABC in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, leading the Chair for Architectural Design, and designed and implemented the first master program in architecture in the country. From 2016-2021 she was Associate Professor for Biodesign at the Biomimicry Research and Innovation Center BRIC at The University of Akron, US. Since her return to Austria in 2021 she was a senior researcher at Hochschule Rhein-Waal in Germany and the University of Applied Arts, Vienna with the project “Biocool” on self-cooling biomimetic building facades. From 2021-2023 she was program expert for the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG. Her work has been published widely in books, journals, exhibitions, and documentary films. She holds lectures and workshops worldwide and acts as reviewer for scientific journals and funding organizations. In October 20223 she joined the University of Applied Arts in Vienna as a professor and department head for building construction.
Complete list of publications:
Research Projects
Tree Root Research for innovation in Foundation Systems
Petra Gruber (Thibaut Houette (researcher), Elena Stachew (researcher))
Publications
Survival Perspectives on Cohabitation by Design
Petra Gruber (book chapter)
P.Gruber: "Survival Perspectives on Cohabitation by Design" in: B. Imhof, D. Mitterberger and T. Derme (Eds.) Co-Corporeality of Humans, Machines, & Microbes. De Gruyter, 2022, DOI: 10.1515/9783035625882-014
Dorze Architecture - Woven Houses
Petra Gruber
P. Gruber: "Dorze Architecture - Woven Houses", in: C. Sauer, M. Stoll, E. F. Waldhör, M. Schneider (Eds.): Architectures of Weaving - From Fibers and Yarns to Scaffolds and Skins, Jovis, 11.2022, ISBN 978-3-86859-739-4
Biological Entanglements for Bioinspiration
Petra Gruber (book chapter)
P. Gruber: "Biological Entanglements for Bioinspiration", in: C. Sauer, M. Stoll, E. F. Waldhör, M. Schneider (Eds.): Architectures of Weaving - From Fibers and Yarns to Scaffolds and Skins, Jovis, 11.2022, ISBN 978-3-86859-739-4
A case study in biomimetic roofing: Moisture dissipation from leaf-shaped shingles
Petra Gruber
A. Rupp, P. Gruber: "A case study in biomimetic roofing: Moisture dissipation from leaf-shaped shingles." in: Biomimicry for Materials, Design and Habitats (pp. 467-487). Elsevier, 2022
Biomimetic course design exploration for improved NASA zero gravity exercise equipment
Petra Gruber (book chapter)
P. Gruber, S. Engelhardt, K. Siman, E. Stachew & G. Perusek: "Biomimetic course design exploration for improved NASA zero gravity exercise equipment." in: Biomimicry for Aerospace (pp. 187-209). Elsevier, 2022
Breathing Skins. Plant Leaves and Architecture
Petra Gruber (book chapter)
L. Burchert, L. Guiducci, P. Gruber and C. Sauer: "Breathing Skins. Plant Leaves and Architecture" in: L. Burchert, I. Resetar (Eds.) Breath. Gestalterische, ökologische und soziale Dimensionen. De Gruyter, 6.12.2021, DOI: 10.1515/9783110701876-020
Architecture in Ethiopia: Architectural Guide Sub-saharan Africa - Volume 4, Eastern Africa: From the Sahel to the Horn of Africa
Petra Gruber (book chapter)
F. Giorghis, P. Gruber et al.: "Architecture in Ethiopia" in: "Architectural Guide Sub-saharan Africa - Volume 4, Eastern Africa: From the Sahel to the Horn of Africa", DOM Verlag, Berlin Germany, 2021
LIWAS - Living Wall Systems Prototype
Petra Gruber (book chapter)
P. Gruber: "LIWAS - Living Wall Systems Prototype" in Beesley Philip (Ed.): Living Architecture Systems White papers" 2019 Riverside Architectural Press, Toronto, Canada 2019
Towards an agile bio digital architecture - Supporting a dynamic evolutionary and developmental view of architecture
Petra Gruber
P. Gruber, T. McGinley, M. Mühlbauer: "Towards an agile biodigital architecture - Supporting a dynamic evolutionary and developmental view of architecture", in: G. Kokturk (Ed.): "Interdisciplinary Expansions in Engineering and Design with the Power of Biomimicry," Intech Open Publisher, 2018 ISBN 978-953-51-3936-2
Built to grow - Blending Architecture and Biology
Petra Gruber
B. Imhof, P. Gruber (Eds.): "Built to grow - Blending Architecture and Biology"; Edition Angewandte, Birkhäuser Verlag Vienna Austria, 2016