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.
Sustainable food systems and behaviour – Biodynamic Farming (olive groves, vineyard, beekeeping, vegetable) – Biomimicry – reconnecting to Nature – Design and Architecture (food-related) – Nature Academy (Italy) (international courses) – Food & entrepreneurship – Artistic Research
PUBLICATIONS
PhD Thesis Orrù, A.M., (2017). Wild Poethics: Exploring Relational and Embodied Practices in Urban-making. PhD Thesis. Chalmers University of Technology. Available at: https://research.chalmers.se/en/publication/253030
Licentiate Thesis Orrù, A.M., (2016). Organoleptic Interfaces: Exploring Embodied Methods in Foodscapes. Licentiate Thesis. Chalmers University of Technology. Available at: https://research.chalmers.se/en/publication/236787
Scientific Journal Publications and Working Papers
Orrù, A.M., (2020). Body Weathering: Poethic Nebular Intentions. RUUKU: Studies in Artistic Research, no. 10 (Special Issue: Catalyses), Available at: http://ruukku-journal.fi/fi/issues/10
Lenau, T.A., Orrù, A.M., Linkola, L., (2018). Biomimicry in the Nordic Countries. (Nordiske Arbejdspapirer/Nordic Working Papers). Nordisk Ministerråd/Nordic Council of Ministers. Copenhagen. https://doi.org/10.6027/NA2018-906</div Available at: http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1221701&dswid=1609.
Orrù, A.M., (2015). Extracting Urban Food Potential: design-based methods for digital and bodily cartography. Future of Food: Journal on Food, Agriculture and Society, 3(1 Special Issue: Finding Spaces for Productive Cities), pp.48–62. Available at: http://fofj.org/index.php/journal/article/view/147.
Other Publications
Chapter Orrù, A.M. (2025 forthcoming). Bee Chamber. in M. Kaethler., F. Rosati., A. Fraccaro., (eds.). In-Hospitable Times. DPR Barcelona.
Essay: Orrù, A.M. (2023). We are humus in the making. M. Kuzmanović., N. Gaffney., J. Pickard., T. Karelse., M. Weeks. eds. Green: Multispecies Entanglings. FoAM.
Chapter Orrù, A.M., von der Haide, E. (2021). Sharing the Harvest: Experimental Combining Art, Activism and Sciences to Foster Transformative Research, Learning and Communication in Urban Agroecology Methodologies (Chapter 2). in C. Tornaghi, M. Dehaene, eds. Resourcing an Agroecological Urbanism. Political, Transformational and Territorial Dimensions. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. Oxford, UK.
Chapter. Orrù, A.M., (2017). Extracting Urban Green Potential: Critical Design-Based Use of Digital and Bodily Cartography Methods (part IX, Chapter 44), in R. Roggema, ed. Agriculture in an Urbanizing Society Volume 2: Proceedings of the 6th AESOP Conference on Sustainable Food Planning. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, p. 1097-1122.
Orrù, A.M., (2012). Foodprints, Innovativ Kultur: Kulturförvaltningen, Sweden. Available at: www.annamariaorru.com/Foodprints
Orrù, A.M., Gutfrański, K., (2012). Architektura Karmiąca (Architecture that Feeds), in. Fundacja Nowej Kultury bęc Zmiana, K. Gutfrański (Trans. and ed). Notes na 6 Tygodni, Nr. 81, pp.118-127. Available at: https://issuu.com/beczmiana/docs/notes-81-internet.
Curating Symposiums | Events | Festivals
From 2014-2016 AHA! Festival 2016: Uni-Verse. [festival organiser/co-founder]. Göteborg: Chalmers University of Technology - Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Physics Department.
Exhibitions
Curator
Curator 2024 Exhibition. At Munkeruphus Kunsthal, Denmark. Superorganism – a bee story [exhibition]. May-October 2024.
Conference Papers and Abstract Presentations
Orrù, A.M., Søndergaard, M., (2018). Bee Diaspora – a swarm in 5 movements. In Festival DME – Culture and Sustainable Cities. Lisbon, Portugal. (November 2018). Abstract/Sound Installation
Orrù, A.M., (2017). Corporeal Encounters with Farmscapes: curating an embodied methodology for ecological urban-making. In 8th AESOP Sustainable Food Planning Conference. Coventry, UK. (paper accompanied with film)
Orrù, A.M., (2017). Body Weathering - Nebular intentions. In Art of Research Conference. Helsinki, Finland. (paper accompanied with film)
Orrù, A.M., (2015). Time for an Urban (Re)evolution - Negotiating Body, Space and Food. In The 1st PARSE Biennial Research Conference on Time. Gothenburg, Sweden.
Orrù, A.M., Imottesjo, H. (formerly Lim), (2014). CO-MAPPING: The Sustainable Compact and Green City. In IGU Urban Commission Conference. Poznan, Poland. (August 2014). Abstract
Orrù, A.M., Schaffer, C., (2013). ‘Alternative Foodscapes: The potential of food in sustainable urban development through an increase in organoleptic quality and social cohesion. In IV EUGEO Congress Conference. Rome, Italy. (September 2013). Abstract
Orrù, A.M., (2012). ‘Foodprints’ - A project investigating the role of Artistic and Design-based research within urban agriculture. In 4th AESOP Sustainable Food Planning Conference. Berlin, Germany. (November 2012). Abstract
Dr. Anna Maria Orrù
Senior lecturer, Architecture/Design/Art, Farmer
Konstfack – University of Arts, Crafts and Design, Stockhom
LM Ericssons Väg 14 – 126 27 Hägersten – Schweden
Co-founder Nordic Biomimicry
www.nordicbiomimicry.org
Email: amo@annamariaorru.com
Phone: +46 (0)720 162 162
Web: www.annamariaorru.com