Lab Architecture Studio Explained

LAB Architecture Studio was a firm of architects and urban designers based in Melbourne, Australia with international offices in London and Shanghai.[1]

Directors

Peter Davidson[2] after graduating from Bachelor of Architecture in 1980 from the NSW Institute of Technology, Sydney, moved to London in 1981 where he became editorial assistant for the journal International Architect. Whilst running his own practice for ten years, Davidson was also teaching at various institutions, including the Architectural Association School of Architecture where he met fellow design director of LAB Donald Bates. Davidson suffered a severe stroke in 2010 and has no involvement with Lab Architecture Studio.[3]

Donald Bates[4] completed his bachelor's degree of Architecture in 1978 from the University of Houston, Texas and received his masters of Architecture in 1983 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Bates was the associate architect to Daniel Libeskind for the Berlin: city edge competition entry as well as the Berlin Museum extension Competition entry, now also known as the Jewish Museum Berlin. After business partner Peter Davidson suffered a severe stroke in 2010, Bates was accused of forgoing his partner's physical, emotional and financial well-being. Quoted in The Age, Nina Libeskind referred to Bates' "Cynical opportunism and expediency".[3] In 2012 Bates was appointed chair of architectural design at the University of Melbourne.[5]

Awards

International awards

Australian National Architecture Awards

RAIA Victorian Awards

Other Awards

Notable projects

Federation Square

Completed in 2002, Federation Square is situated on a 3.6hectare corner site bound by Flinders and Swanston Streets in Melbourne, Australia. With a building footprint of 45,000 square metres the precinct incorporates commercial, civic and cultural programs.[6] Along with a wide variety of restaurants, bars and cafes and retail spaces larger institutions represented include the Ian Potter Centre (NGV), the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Melbourne headquarters for SBS (Australian TV channel) and the Melbourne Visitor Centre.

In 1997 an international design competition was launched by the Victorian Government with a focus of creating new civic space for Melbourne, connecting Flinders Street to the Yarra River and enhancing the cultural attributes of the city. Five designs were shortlisted from the 177 entries. The winning design of Bates Smart Architects and Lab Studio Architects was announced in July 1997.[7] When the competition was won, Federation Square was their first building project.

The main plaza can accommodate up to 25000 people. The outdoor amphitheatre plays host to a variety of festivals and concerts as well as broadcasting cultural events such as the annual Tropfest and sporting events such as the AFL (Australian Football League) Grand Final.

Federation Square was met with widespread disapproval, the architects receiving hate mail from people who loathed the design.[8]

Mixed-use and offices

SOHO Shangdu[9] Beijing, China (2004–07)Site area: 2.2haGross floor area: 170,000m2Type: commercial, residential + retail

Riyadh Business Center[10] Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2005)Site area: 3.9haGross floor area: 87,000m2Type: offices, hotel, retail

Tatweer TowersDubai (2006)Site area: 7.6haGross floor area: 1,500,000m2Type: commercial offices, residential, hotel + retail

Zovie TowersTianjin, China (2007-)Site area: 2.7haGross floor area: 223,710m2Type: commercial office, residential, retail, hotel + business club

Guardian Towers[11] Abu Dhabi (2007–09)Site area: 0.7haGross floor area: 50,000m2

References

  1. Web site: Lab architecture studio.
  2. Web site: Interview with Peter Davidson on specifier.com.au. 2011-04-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20110304194711/http://www.specifier.com.au/architects/5642/Peter-Davidson.html. 2011-03-04. dead.
  3. News: Coslovich. Gabriella. Once were partners: architects' spat goes public. 20 February 2013. The Age. 7 December 2011.
  4. Web site: Lab architecture studio bio on arcspace.com.
  5. Web site: Features.
  6. http://www.arcspace.com/features/lab-architecture-studio/federation-square/ Federation Square: Lab Architecture Studio
  7. News: Melbourne's new square . . Melbourne . 10 . 1997-07-28 . 2024-06-02 . Newspapers.com.
  8. Carly Crawford, 'Federation Square named among world's ugliest buildings on Virtual Tourist website', Herald Sun, 23 November 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  9. http://www.arcspace.com/features/lab-architecture-studio/soho-shang-du/ SOHO Shang Du: Lab architecture studio
  10. http://www.arcspace.com/features/lab-architecture-studio/riyadh-business-center/ Riyadh Business Center: Lab architecture studio
  11. http://www.arcspace.com/features/lab-architecture-studio/guardian-towers/ The Guardian Towers: Lab architecture studio

External links