Biomimetic Strategies for Climate-Adaptive Buildings: A Multi-Case Analytical Framework Linking Biological Mechanisms, Architectural Translation, and Evidence Status

Biomimetic architecture is increasingly discussed as a route toward climate-responsive and regenerative design, yet architectural descriptions alone cannot demonstrate thermal, ventilation, daylight, energy or microclimatic performance. This study presents the Biomimetic Climate-Adaptability Framework (BCAF) as a retrospective analytical and comparative framework rather than a performance-rating or validated design-support instrument. The BCAF establishes an explicit chain between an environmental problem, a biological function, a biological mechanism, an architectural translation, a design parameter, an expected environmental response and an appropriate verification method. A structured qualitative multi-case analysis is applied to four cases—the Lotus Temple in New Delhi, National Taichung Theater in Taichung, Little Island in New York and Waterloo International Terminal in London—selected through transparent criteria concerning documented nature-related references, architectural translations, environmental relevance, scale diversity and source availability. The analysis distinguishes documented architectural mechanisms from verified environmental outcomes and does not convert qualitative interpretation into numerical performance scores. Cross-case comparison shows that the analytical value of the precedents lies primarily in the traceability of mechanism translation and in making evidence gaps explicit. The study contributes a mechanism-based analytical structure for structured precedent analysis and verification planning; its prospective efficacy as a design-support tool remains to be tested through expert, interrater and design action studies.