Study of natural shapes

Any suggestions for good references on the study of natural shapes ?
I have a great book called "Patterns in Nature" by Peter S. Stevens, but I'd like to go more in-depth ; specially on the subject of shells and skeletons.

Cheers !

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alessio Erioli on August 16, 2009 at 3:38am

Hi Olivier,

the book you're starting from is really nice, let me suggest you some books that I find fundamental for the topic you're up to:

. On Growth and Form, D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson
. Structure in Nature is a Strategy for Design, Peter Pearce (yes I agree that when he goes on polyhedra derived projects things get outdated but I find the first part really helpful)
. Kunstformen der Natur, Ernst Haeckel

You can also google them, you'll find lots of resources:

http://www.amazon.com/Growth-Form-Complete-Revised/dp/0486671356/re...
http://www.amazon.com/Structure-Nature-Strategy-Design-Pearce/dp/02...
http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/haeckel/kunstformen/natur.html (the whole plates collection)
http://www.core.form-ula.com/2008/04/03/ernst-haeckel-collection/
http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/haeckel/radiolarien/ (about Radiolaria)

Hope this can be helpful!

Alessio

PS: sorry for replicas in my post, I realized only when it was first published that I replied without reading the whole discussion, my bad.

Permalink Reply by Lars Renklint on August 16, 2009 at 9:24am