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Professor Michael Ramage is a Reader in Architecture and Engineering at the University of Cambridge, leading the Centre for Natural Material Innovation. His research focuses on sustainable, low-energy structural systems using engineered timber, bamboo, and earth masonry
Professor Michael H. Ramage is a Reader in Architecture and Engineering in the Department of Architecture at the University of Cambridge. He is the leader of the internationally recognized Centre for Natural Material Innovation (CNMI) at the university. With dual training as both an architect and an engineer (MArch from MIT, PhD), his work focuses on developing low-energy structural materials and systems to address the environmental impact of construction.
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His research priorities include
- Modified and Engineered Timber and the development of Tall Timber construction.
- Improving structural bamboo for construction applications.
- Developing earth masonry vaulting and seismic protection systems.
- Designing better housing in the developing world.
Professor Ramage is also a Fellow of Sidney Sussex College and a founding partner of the design practice Light Earth Designs, ensuring his academic research is grounded in practical, real-world application, often securing funding from prestigious bodies like the Leverhulme Trust and the Royal Society.
Biography
Michael Ramage studied architecture at MIT and worked for the esteemed engineering firm Conzett Bronzini in Switzerland before joining the faculty at Cambridge. This combined professional and academic experience informs his holistic approach to materials and structures.
At Cambridge, he has become a global leader in the field of sustainable construction. His research is instrumental in proving the viability of natural, low-carbon materials for large-scale, high-performance buildings. For example, his work on “Super Tall Timber” has radically redefined possibilities in high-rise construction. His commitment to global impact is evident in projects like the Rwanda Cricket Stadium, which utilized seismically stabilized tile vaults, a design derived from his research into earth masonry. He maintains strong ties to both practice and education, teaching, researching, designing buildings, and serving as the Director of Studies for Sidney Sussex College.
Core Profile Details
Contact and Availability
Research and Expertise
Professor Ramage’s expertise is focused on innovative structural design using natural, low-carbon materials, blending materials science with structural mechanics and architectural design.
Key Research Areas
- Natural Material Innovation: Developing and characterizing improved engineered timber and bamboo composites for structural applications.
- Tall Timber Construction: Pioneering design research and criteria for next-generation, high-rise timber buildings (e.g., “Super Tall Timber”).
- Structural Masonry: Research on Earth Masonry Vaulting and thin-shell masonry, including low-carbon vaulted structures and systems for seismic protection.
- Sustainable Housing: Designing energy-efficient transitional and permanent housing solutions, particularly in the developing world.
- Materials Science: Studying the fundamental properties of natural materials, such as the transport of liquids in softwood and the relationship between structure and stiffness in laminated bamboo.
Supervision and Teaching
Professor Ramage teaches, researches, and designs buildings, with teaching focused on structures, materials, and low-energy systems within the Department of Architecture. He serves as the Director of Studies for Sidney Sussex College.
Key Publications
- 2019: Ramage, M., Hall, T. J., Gatóo, A., & Al Asali, M. W. Rwanda Cricket Stadium: Seismically stabilised tile vaults. Structures. (Case study on earth masonry/vaulting).
- 2017: Ramage, M.H., Foster, R.M., Smith, S., Flanagan, K. and Bakker, R. Super Tall Timber: Design research for the next generation of natural structure. The Journal of Architecture. (Definitive paper on high-rise timber).
- 2017: Ramage, M.H., Burridge, H., Busse-Wicher, M., et al. The wood from the trees: The use of timber in construction. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. (Comprehensive review on timber’s role in sustainability).
- 2016: Foster, R. and Ramage, M.H. Proposal for Defining a Tall Timber Building. J. Struct. Eng. (Established criteria for tall timber buildings).
- 2015: Sharma B, Gatóo A, Bock M, Ramage M.H. Engineered Bamboo for structural applications. Journal of Construction and Building Materials. (Foundational work on structural bamboo).
- 2010: Ramage, M.H., Ochsendorf, J., Rich, P., et al. Design and Construction of the Mapungubwe National Park Interpretive Centre, South Africa. (Early work on earth masonry vaults).
