Michael H. Ramage MArch, PhD
University Reader in Architecture and Engineering. Deputy Head of Department for Research. Fellow of Sidney Sussex College. Director of Studies for Sidney Sussex College and St John’s College.
Michael Ramage leads the Centre for Natural Material Innovation at Cambridge University. Trained as an architect and an engineer, he is a Reader in architecture and Engineering in the Department of Architecture, a fellow of Sidney Sussex College, and a founding partner of Light Earth Designs. He studied architecture at MIT, and worked for Conzett Bronzini inSwitzerland prior to teaching at Cambridge. His current research is focused on developing low-energy structural materials and systems in masonry, better housing in the developing world and improved engineered timber and bamboo through natural material innovation. He teaches, researches and designs buildings, and receives research funding from the Leverhulme Trust, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Royal Society, the British Academy, and industry.
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As Michael says, “one must keep in mind that even the longest forestry rotations are just a blink on any geological time scale, i.e. the time scale for the replenishment of the Earth’s resources (rocks, ores and soils) required in the supply chain of other construction materials. In that regard, timber is the only widely used building material that can be considered to be truly renewable”
Wood for Good…Part of the 39 ways to save the planet 5th Jan 2012 ( Click the image to go to the recording )
Lamella would like to thank the BBC and Cambridge Uni for this excellent recording.
Wooden Skyscrapers.
Wooden skyscrapers are an ambitious and innovative solution to the problems posed by urbanisation. Not only are they faster to build, they have smaller carbon footprints than high-rises made of concrete and steel.