Beavers and Bees

I felt this was an interesting article comparing the architectural designs of both beavers and bees. I was interested in learning that Vitruvius believed we have surpassed animals in architecture, while Rudofsky believes that we still have something to learn from animals. At first I thought we have wildly surpassed the architecture of animals but after reading more of the article, I found out something interested. Morgan speculated that "the beaver's ability to adjust its designs to varying circumstances rather than blindly following un unchanging model." This is after Morgan looked at different dams and realized that the beavers began changing their designs to adjust and protect the dam to the changing ways.
I also found interesting the argument between architectural appearance and designs between beaver dams and bee hives. Darwin greatly admired bees for their artisty and the intricacy of their hives while beavers built in a haphazard fashion and only was considered artistic in appearance over time. I really do think that beehives are beautiful but I feel the intricate designs are simply for pure purpose and necessity. This is exactly Cheng talked about, "the animal's intelligence was seen as directing the activity of building; architecture therefore was an expression of consciousness." It turned into something the animals did while surviving. They have to build, and it just happens to be what they create can be considered beautiful architecture.