Michael Pawlyn

Michael Pawlyn was one of the lead architects behind the Eden Project in Cornwall. Treating nature as a blueprint, he believes there are huge gains to be made by learning from how the natural world works - especially in the effort to slow down the effects of climate change.

For every problem we face, from generating energy to manufacturing materials, there are examples from nature to give us inspiration. Importantly, these solutions are often more profitable than traditional approaches, as well as radically reducing the impact on the environment.

Michael's work includes a carbon neutral method for regenerating waste, and the revolutionary Sarah Forest Project which mimics the Namibian fog-basking beetle's ability to create its own fresh water. The scheme has the potential to reverse the process of desertification in the Sahara and other desert regions as well as generating large amounts of renewable solar energy.

Michael Pawlyn represented Grimshaw as a Founder Member of the UK Green Building Council and is a member of The Edge, the environmental think tank. He has also founded his own architectural practice specialising in sustainable and biomimicry projects and written the book Biomimicry in Architecture.

JLA Client Comments

"Michael inspires audiences to look at the debate with imagination rather than doom-mongering." Sir Nicholas Grimshaw