COLLABORATIVE LAB | RESEARCH
The Collaborative Lab serves as the research and ideation hub of Collaborative Architecture, where challenging and seemingly impossible hypotheses are put to the test, adjusted, and improved in order to be utilized in real-time projects. Additionally, it provides a platform for collaboration between the Studio and experts from various fields, as well as government and research organizations, to explore impactful ideas.
The Riyadh Studio works closely with Collaborative Lab to boost innovation across sectors and to encourage R&D in Architecture and Design in the region. The Studio has deeply invested in academics and academic research; Collaborative Lab serves as the agency to achieve these objectives and to foster lasting collaborations.
Design Policy for the State of Kerala | Kerala, India
Mujib & Lalita along with the research team at Collaborative Lab played a pivotal role in an effort to enact a comprehensive Design Policy for the State of Kerala (Mujib’s home state). With the state government embracing the strategic importance of such policy, Kerala shall be the first state in the country to have a set of forward looking doctrine that shall guide the state’s unique development goals for the coming decades.
The below diagram explains the over structure as it has been conceived.
Design Audit of Schools | Government of Kerala, India
Collaborative Lab, in association with the Building Science Lab- College of Architecture, Trivandrum (CAT), has joined forces with the Department of Education of the Government of Kerala to conduct a comprehensive Design Audit of all public schools in the state. The aim of this audit is to thoroughly assess the current infrastructure and provide a foundation for enhancing existing facilities and developing a blueprint for future strategies for designing educational spaces across the state.
Project Brick | Research
The Project Brick aims to capture the fascinating story of bricks, which have not only played a crucial role in shaping our buildings but the entire cities around the globe. However, this story has taken an unexpected turn due to the current emphasis on environmental goals, sustainable resource utilization, and the overall impact on the environment. With rapid urbanization posing a threat to the ecological balance and cultivable land, many countries are restricting the production of traditional bricks and seeking alternative materials with lesser carbon and ecological footprints.
Furthermore, it is equally essential to discuss ecologically and environmentally responsible processes and practices worldwide. Wapan, a poetic way of recycling and reusing bricks, popularized by Wang Shu, reflects contemporary society’s lack sensitivity and urgent concern for preservation of heritage. It serves as a critique of the devastating forces of Capital in our neighbourhoods and urban centres in obliterating the cultural references and assets.
The exhibit highlights the ethical relationship between urban centers and their surrounding hinterlands and how the latter subsidizes the former in its voracious consumption, negatively impacting those communities. New urban strategies call for the re-evaluation of old models to create resilient, liveable cities while maintaining the ecological integrity of the surrounding hinterlands, simultaneously addressing urban centers’ food security. The industry has embraced change and invested in making the manufacturing process less harmful to the environment. The exhibit also showcases notable examples of contemporary architecture and their contribution to sustainable production of architecture.
Material Research & Product Design
At present, the Studio is involved in the development of various intriguing products and objects, which are supported by extensive material research. Among these projects are the Cliff Series, a collection of seating options, and the Ripple Series, a line of jewellery, both of which draw inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of Alula, Saudi Arabia.
The Clip Series is a technologically advanced range of chairs that comes in polycarbonate and bent ply, with a variety of finishes and configurations available. Additionally, the Studio is currently collaborating with several well-known Italian furniture brands to create a few new line of furniture
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DESIGN LIFE CYCLE
EXHIBITIONS | INSTALLATIONS
