TED Talks: Building Wonder Season 1 Episode 16 Michael Pawlyn: Using Nature's Genius in Architecture

Michael Pawlyn is an architect who takes inspiration from nature for his designs. In this episode, he discusses how he uses biomimicry to create sustainable and efficient buildings that can benefit both humans and the environment. He shares several examples of his work, including the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, which is a series of giant biomes that house thousands of plant species from around the world. Pawlyn explains how his team studied the way ecosystems work and used that knowledge to design the Eden Project's structures so that they could create a similar environment for the plants. He also talks about his work on the Sahara Forest Project, which aims to create a sustainable food and energy source in the desert by using seawater to grow crops and using solar power to generate energy. Pawlyn discusses the challenges of designing a system that can work in such a harsh environment and explains how his team looked to natural systems for inspiration. Finally, he talks about how biomimicry is not just about copying nature, but about understanding the principles behind the designs and applying them in innovative ways. Pawlyn's talk is a fascinating exploration of how we can learn from nature to create a more sustainable and efficient built environment.