PLP Architecture

This year the London Festival of Architecture celebrated its 20th anniversary. Our Partner Bernard Storch was there to share his insights with the panel at the "Designing The Future: Architectural Visions and Innovations" event.

For another year running, PLP Architecture have been highlighted as having one of the highest proportions of both female (54%) and ethnic-minority (35%) architects, amongst the UK’s leading 100 studios (the AJ100). We take great pride in the diversity of our teams and the richness that this brings to our work around the world. Whilst it’s great to celebrate progress, we also understand that there is still much more work to be done to improve inclusivity within our industry. This is why we continue to be part of key industry organisations like Real Estate Balance to move the needle forwards. #AJ100 Architects’ Journal

Beyond its technical functionality, the WLA Artificial Intelligence Laboratory also focuses on the human, providing a world-class workspace that prioritises researchers’ comfort and social interaction. In this recently opened AI Lab, a large central atrium provides five distinct collaboration spaces to encourage cross-disciplinary interaction and break down research silos. As well as an interior design that boosts specifically designed to boost creativity and productivity, outside spaces like landscaped roof terraces and gardens promote relaxation and recharge for scientists. Discover the project on our website here:  https://lnkd.in/eRdJbCzX The AI Lab was commissioned by Parkland Group and designed by PLP Architecture with Arup, Arcplus Group (Int'l) Co., Limited Institute of Shanghai Architectural Design and Research, Hassell, 华东建筑设计研究总院 ECADI, HDA and Ballistic Architecture Machine (BAM).

The world’s first purpose-built Artificial Intelligence research laboratory has opened in Shanghai! The 47,400m2 AI Lab, created for the World Laureates Association (WLA) Science Community, is designed to meet the unique needs of machine and deep learning development. As the use of AI within business, science and technology grows, demand for R&D is expected to accelerate. The AI Lab represents a new real estate asset class to satisfy this demand. The building is the product of extensive research, which ultimately addresses today’s AI R&D challenges by offering a comprehensive ecosystem under one roof. It features a Super Lab for physical simulations, Specialist Labs for diverse technological experiments, secure Data Centres, and General Labs with a focus on human well-being. The AI Lab was commissioned by Parkland Group and designed by PLP Architecture with Arup, Arcplus Group (Int'l) Co., Limited Institute of Shanghai Architectural Design and Research, Hassell, 华东建筑设计研究总院 ECADI, HDA and BAM. Read the Architects’ Journal’s coverage of the building here: https://lnkd.in/dnyv-why Images by: LinSong and StudioSZ Photo

PLP Architecture's Lee Polisano, a contributor to the COIMA City Lab, was in Milan speaking about our work in Italy and elsewhere in conjunction with COIMA celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.

How can AI tools, like Midjourney, help us to design in different geographical contexts? We spoke to Dorsa Hosseinkhani, a Part II Architectural Assistant at PLP, about how she tackled this very issue in Round 2 of our AI Image Generation Competition. As well as dissecting the brief in a European context, she also explored how the same ideas could be translated into the vernacular styles of her home country of Iran. Read Dorsa’s full Insight here: https://lnkd.in/eVKc3cAz

Designing The Future: Architectural Visions and Innovations. Don't miss Bernard Storch speaking at the London Festival of Architecture, tomorrow! Grab your free tickets in the links below to hear from Bernard and a whole host of other inspiring speakers.

We have been chosen to develop designs for a new people-oriented workspace in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. The design will be developed off the back of a piece of research and strategy work by PLP Labs, which explored emerging workspace trends and strategies for future office design. The new offices will be designed to cater for the area’s growing creative sector and be centred around principles of sustainability and ESG. The project involves transforming the existing SK Gas charging station site into a state-of-the-art office space, with local architect DMP Partners. Read more about it on our website: https://lnkd.in/exVjTgR6

How can you maintain an area’s historic value while innovatively adding sustainable homes, regenerate the area, and create a year-round community? This was at the heart of the brief for Round 2 of our AI Image Generation Competition. Participants from our team at PLP used Midjourney to re-imagine what our historic European cities might look like in the near future. 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳. Stay tuned as we continue our explorations with these technologies and check in with us later to an insight into Round 2 from one of our contestants.

Don’t miss “Building a Sustainable Future with Biomaterials” tomorrow, a webinar featuring PLP Labs’ Savannah Willits. The talk and panel discussion, hosted by the NLA as part of London Climate Action Week, will explore some of the latest advancements in biomaterial research, including opportunities and solutions for adoption. Savannah has been spearheading PLP Labs’ work in innovating in this space. This includes her work in coordinating teams developing mycelium blocks and flexible timber partitions – amongst many other initiatives. She will be joined online by Federico Ortiz (NLA), Dr Natasha Watson (Buro Happold), and Ellen Willis (Chetwoods). Register for your free ticket here: https://lnkd.in/eyK-ag8R