PAL Architecture Labs
There are very few opportunities in architectural practices of a medium to small scale actively to participate in developing innovative ideas with their peers in other disciplines. There is minimal space within a design brief to allow for the time and money for this. In larger practices such allowances are equally driven by economic pressures which tend not to challenge traditional working practice. In education it is essential to build relationships with practices for innovative ideas to reach potential clients. The Lab offers a unique opportunity for talented professionals and educators involved in creating the built environment to work together.
PAL Architecture Labs address the question, if architecture involves strategic thinking about the specific needs of people in the environment, what is the role of the architect? Architecture Labs focus on identifying and bringing together exceptional talent in architecture, engineering and planning, encouraging architects to investigate new technologies and other disciplines and, in so doing, to fullfil a new role.
- The Lab is focused on modelling architectural concepts and proposals and providing a public forum for discussion about projects generated through the lab process
- The Lab invites professional architects, engineers, planners, artists and scientists to build creative teams work to collaboratively on specific projects and to inform and enhance professional development.
The Architecture Lab pilot in 2001/02 was designed by Digital Putty, a team of four who trained as architects. One of the direct outcomes of the Architecture Lab pilot is a research centre called Experimental Practice (EXP), launched in 2003 at the Department of Architecture, School of Architecture and the Built Environment, University of Westminster, London, to stimulate collaborative experimental work through four research clusters closely linked with talent in industry, teaching and practice. Samantha Hardingham is a research fellow at EXP, who has also written a book inspired by the Architecture Lab pilot, Experiments in Architecture: Ten Tall Stories, published in 2005.
Lab Co-directors
Digital Putty:
Samantha Hardingham
Stefan Kueppers
William McLean
Andrew Whiting
See PAL news for details of recent and forthcoming Architecture Lab activity
Click here for a list of Participants
