BIOGRAPHY
Michael Pawlyn is an architect, writer and public speaker. He has been described as an expert in
regenerative design and biomimicry. He established his firm Exploration Architecture in 2007 to focus on
high performance buildings and solutions for the circular economy. The company has developed a
ground-breaking office project, an ultra-low energy data centre, a zero waste textiles factory and
progressive solutions for green cities.
Michael Pawlyn jointly initiated the widely acclaimed Sahara Forest Project; the latest version of which was opened by the King of Jordan.
Prior to setting up Exploration, Michael Pawlyn worked with Grimshaw for ten years and was central to the team that designed the Eden Project.
He is regularly booked as a keynote speaker on innovation and his TED talk has had over 2 million views.
He has written two books – Flourish: Design Paradigms for Our Planetary Emergency (co-authored with Sarah Ichioka) and Biomimicry in Architecture – both of which have been the respective publisher’s best-selling title.
In 2019, Michael jointly initiated ‘Architects Declare a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency’ – a global call to action which has spread to 28 countries with over 7,000 firms signed up.
He has been featured in The Financial Times, National Geographic, The Economist, Wired and The
Guardian as well as in a large number of design magazines. His television and radio appearances include
‘Animal Einsteins’ on BBC television and a number of programmes on BBC Radio 4.
For further information about Michael Pawlyn’s speaking topics, availability and fees, contact VBQ founding agent Leo von Bülow-Quirk at leo@vbqspeakers.com.
MICHAEL PAWLYN: SPEAKER
What can pollen grains teach us about optimising a roof structure?
How can a beetle’s shell show us how to prevent desertification?
Michael’s revolutionary approach to architecture and design shows how taking insights from one field can provide a whole new source of inspiration for another. His fascinating insights on creativity, innovation and sustainability are relevant for any organisation looking to achieve breakthroughs by approaching old problems in new ways.