Michael Pawlyn

Michael Pawlyn is a leading architect and expert on sustainability. He is the director of Exploration, a firm that looks to create designs that offer sustainable benefits to organisations. He had previously worked on the Eden project and is an author as well as a TEDx Speaker. Available to hire as a speaker Michael is perfect for any audience that wants to be educated on climate change, and how they can embed sustainability into both their work and private lives.

Michael received a degree in Architecture from University College London before working as an Architectural Assistant at Bennetts Associates and Takao Endo Architects. In 1990 he completed his studies at the University of Bath. He then spent five years as an Architect at Haworth Tompkins Architects. In 1997 he became Associate Director of Grimshaw. At Grimshaw, he was one of the core architects of the Eden Project. He also led The EcoRainforest, the North Wales Tidal Energy Project and Las Palmas Water amongst other revolutionary design projects. Michael also represented the firm as a Founding Member of the UK Green Building Council and was the driving force behind its sustainable design system which saw the company become the first European Architecture firm to be certified ISO14001.

In 2007 Michael became founding Director of Exploration Architecture Limited, a firm that aims to go beyond traditional sustainability designs to create designs that have a long-term benefit for the environment. Through his work with the company, Michael initiated the Sahara Forest Project and in 2019 he co-founded Architects Declare a Climate & Biodiversity Emergency, which has since had over 7000 companies sign up to help address climate issues. Exploration Architecture's work has been shown at exhibitions at The Architecture Foundation, Modern Art Oxford and in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael is also the author of Biomimicry in Architecture, which was RIBA Publications’ best-selling title, and co-author of Flourish: Design Paradigms for Our Planetary Emergency. As well as his own books, Michael has featured in The Economist, New Scientist, Wired and National Geographic amongst other international press outlets. His media work also includes appearances on Radio 4 and the Discovery Channel. Michael has previously addressed world leaders on sustainability and climate change.

Available to hire as a speaker Michael Pawlyn has provided a number of keynote addresses and has given a TEDx Talk that has been watched by over two million people. When speaking Michael addresses the audience in a passionate way and explores topics such as sustainability, climate change and changing the way things are done for the benefit of the planet. An expert on all things’ sustainability, Michael is a great choice for any event or business with a green agenda.