Photo: ‘Termite Mounds in the Outback’ by Rob & Jules
TERMITE MOUND
Self-cooling nest maintains steady temperature
The self-cooling Termite – macrotermes michaelseni – mounds always maintain their temperature within one degree of 31 degrees Celsius, no matter if external temperatures vary between -5 and 42 degrees. This full control of their nests temperature and humidity is critical for the efficient harvesting ofthe colony’s fungi-food. These mounds represent a zero-waste sustainable architecture and solar-air conditioning, including a farming system that is self-regulated by swarm intelligence of the termites. Architectural examples influenced by the termite mound include an office-shopping building in Harare – Zimbabwe (Arups with architect Mike Pearce), and also a school designed by Anders Nyquist outside Sundsvall Sweden.