Biomimicry in architecture michael pawlyn biography

British architect

Not to be confused with Michael Pollan.

Michael Pawlyn (born 30 September ) is a British architect noted^[1] for his work in the field biomimetic architecture and innovation, as well as jointly initiating the 'Architects Declare' movement in the UK.^[2] He was part of the principal team of architects that conceived and designed The Eden Project^[3][4] and is a regular keynote speaker at events on innovation and environmental sustainability.

His best selling RIBA book Biomimicry in Architecture^[5] was published in and a revised second edition, with a foreword by Ellen MacArthur, was published in He was one of the three founders of The Sahara Forest Project^[6] - a way of supplying fresh water, food and renewable energy in arid conditions - and remains actively involved as a Founding Partner and Design Manager.

Career

After graduating in Architecture from The Bartlett, University College London, Pawlyn worked in London and Japan before returning to complete his studies at the University of Bath. He worked briefly as a researcher on television documentaries before joining Haworth Tompkins Architects.

Biomimicry in architecture michael pawlyn biography Chris Haslam. Biomimicry in Architecture. The architect has founded his own architectural firm based on its tenets, just published a book with RIBA on the practice and has spoken at TED on its virtues. Now what we need to do is work out what the right budget figure is to aim for.

In Michael Pawlyn became part of the Grimshaw Architects' team to work on the Eden Project. This innovative scheme, conceived by Tim Smit, radically transformed a Kaolinite pit into a complex of adjoining Biomes that created sustainable environments for Rainforest and Mediterranean plant species.

In he established Exploration Architecture to develop work that employs biomimicry^[7] as a guiding principal and brings together three lifelong passions - biology, design and the environment.

At TED Salon London, November , Michael Pawlyn became one of the small number of architects to have a talk posted to TED.^[8] His presentation, in which he describes how biomimicry could help transform architecture and society, has been viewed over million times.

Exploration Architecture's work was exhibited in a solo exhibition, at The Architecture Foundation in ;^[9] featured in the Future Knowledge^[10] exhibition at Modern Art Oxford in ; and Learning From Nature: The Future of Design^[11] exhibition in Atlanta, Georgia in

In Michael Pawlyn was invited to join an International Panel of Experts advising the Singapore Government on future development plans, best practice and global trends in planning and urban design.^[12]

With the publication of the IPCC Report, which concluded that limiting global warming would require “rapid and far-reaching” transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities,"^[13] Pawlyn jointly initiated Architects Declare a Climate & Biodiversity Emergency.^[14] This movement has inspired over 6, companies in 26 countries to sign a declaration of action and a commitment to address "the needs of our society without breaching the earth’s ecological boundaries will demand a paradigm shift in our behaviour".^[15]

Selected projects

Boat for the Plastiki Expedition:^[16] This project, designed with client David de Rothschild, explored Cradle to Cradle ideas to highlight solutions to plastic pollution in the ocean.

The Sahara Forest Project:^[17] demonstrates how biomimicry can help address a range of challenges by employing three components - saltwater cooled greenhouses, concentrated solar power (CSP) and desert revegetation technologies. Collectively these elements provide fresh water, land regeneration, the sequestering of carbon in soils, the closing the nutrient cycle and provides employment in deprived areas.^[18]

The Biomimetic Office:^[19] A sustainable office building designed with Yaniv Peer of Exploration, Arup Research & Development, Mace Cost Consultants and Professor Julian Vincent^[20]

The Mountain Data Centre: A concept for ultra-low energy data centre based on principles of efficient branching systems in biology referred to as Murray's law.

Biomimicry in architecture michael pawlyn biography book Prior to setting up the company Michael Pawlyn worked with Grimshaw for ten years and was central to the team that radically re-invented horticultural architecture for the Eden Project. Lessons of design learned from nature". Add languages Add topic. In Michael Pawlyn was invited to join an International Panel of Experts advising the Singapore Government on future development plans, best practice and global trends in planning and urban design.

Personal

Michael lives in London with his partner, photographer Kelly Hill,^[21] and their two children.

Bibliography

Books:

· Michael Pawlyn () Biomimicry in Architecture (first edition) with a foreword by Jonathon Porritt, London, RIBA Publications

· Michael Pawlyn () Biomimicry in Architecture (second edition) with a foreword by Dame Ellen MacArthur, London, RIBA Publications

· Sarah Ichioka and Michael Pawlyn () Flourish: Design Paradigms for Our Planetary Emergency, Triarchy Press Ltd

Chapter in multi-authored book:

· Michael Pawlyn () Ecosystems as a unifying model for cities and industry, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation (ed.) A New Dynamic 2: Effective systems in a circular economy,^[22] Cowes, Ellen MacArthur Foundation Publishing, pp 63–85

References

External links