The foundation of Dr. Anna Maria Orrù’s work is embedded in nature’s inspiration (biomimicry), sustainable food systems, and sustainable behaviour. Everywhere in her practice and teaching, she looks to provide solutions to tackle the climate emergency inspired by nature. She has worked within architecture since 1999 both in practice & research in London with Grimshaw, Exploration Architecture and at Arups and internationally. In 2010, she moved to Sweden and since has been teaching and driving biomimicry education in various Swedish universities. Now based in Sweden and Italy, she holds a PhD in Architecture from Chalmers University of Technology (Wild Poethics – exploring relational and embodied practices in urban-making’ 2017) which furthered the topic of nature-inspired design using artistic research and embodied methodologies.

She lectures and teaches at numerous Swedish Universities that include Konstfack, KTH and Chalmers. She holds an Affiliated Senior Lecturer position at Konstfack University of Arts, craft & Design where she is responsible for embedding nature-inspired sustainability. She is also on Guest Faculty at the Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship (SSES) where she has been teaching on the intersection of biomimicry and Entrepreneurship since 2019. She is co-author on the study for the Nordic Council of Ministers on the ’state of biomimicry in the Nordics’ and co-founder of Nordic Biomimicry, where she directs the center that dedicates itself to collaborate with nature as a mentor, measure and method. To further underpin her service to ’nature’, she is a beekeeper and takes care of a biodynamic vineyard and olive grove.

In her continued efforts to co-habit and collaborate with nature, she has embarked on creating a nature academy on the Tuscan farm where she grows biodynamic produce and deepens knowledge about sustainable living.