Michael first found his passion for architecture studying the subject at University College London. After graduation Michael briefly committed his time to research for TV documentaries, later joining Haworth Tompkins Architects to begin his career in architecture. One of Michael’s greatest credits as an architect is being part of the Eden Project Team. Joining Grimshaw Architects, Michael worked alongside Tim Smit and his team to create the biomes that house thousands of rainforest and Mediterranean plants.
Passionate to innovate high-performance buildings, Michael founded Exploration Architecture Limited back in 2007. Establishing a reputation as a pioneer of biomimicry- elements of nature such as models, systems and structures to solve human problems- Michael founded his company as an avenue to bring this into the world of modern architecture. His company has gone on to develop countless ground-breaking projects such as an ultra-low energy data centre and a zero waste textiles factory. The companies work has been exhibited across the country, such as at the solo exhibition The Architecture Foundation.
Alongside his company, Michael has also dedicated his time to other special projects. Michael played a pivotal part in the design of the boat Plastiki, David Mayer De Rothchild’s project to highlight the problem of plastic in the ocean. He was also part of the Sahara Forest Project, showing how biomimicry can help humans with solar power, desert revegetation and saltwater cooled greenhouses. He was also pivotal in the creation of The Biomimetic Office and The Mountain Data Centre, again emphasising the importance of sustainability and creating a sustainable environment.
As a speaker Michael is passionate to encourage other architects to go beyond the constraints of sustainable design, to pioneer new innovative avenues of sustainable architecture. Michael is often sought to deliver keynote speeches on how nature can be used to create genius architecture, solving problems that humans have faced for centuries with biomimicry. A seasoned TED talker, Michael is considered an industry leader within his sector and has spoken at countless events across the country. Michael is also a published author, having written Biomimicry in Architecture (First Edition) and Biomimicry in Architecture (Second Edition). Informative, passionate and knowledgeable, Michael is the perfect speaker for a range of corporate events to encourage actionable change toward a more sustainable future.
