About | Landlab

Idea

LANDLAB is a multidisciplinary office that combines the practice of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture to address contemporary challenges associated with livability, urban quality of life, climate change and biodiversity loss. Since its founding in 2007, we work in complex environments and at a wide range of scales, from territory to place.

We design flexible spaces and systems, integrating ecology, technology, tradition and landscape, involving stakeholders in the process. Thus, each choice becomes a relational act, seeking to create structures that respect and strengthen the interdependence and eco-dependence between humans and their environment.

Architecture

We understand architecture as a discipline that builds spaces to be inhabited, integrating culture, landscape and care. In this context, contemporary architecture faces the challenge of designing spaces that not only satisfy people’s functional needs, but also promote wellbeing, sustainability and connection with the natural environment. These principles are intertwined in an approach that pursues a positive change in the way we build and inhabit.

Landscape

We understand Landscape as a revelation that explains the ways of inhabiting a place in time, as a form of knowledge. Therefore, when we inquire into a landscape, we also do so to discover its identity. One of the most important challenges of our time is to work on the management of landscapes highly influenced by human activity in a way that increases their habitability, biological diversity and climatic resilience, while maintaining their character. We understand and enhance the connections between ecological systems and public infrastructure to create strategies that improve the cohesion and livability of the built environment.

Planning

We propose to design new and different relationships between urban spaces and their natural surroundings that not only promote adaptation, but also encourage regeneration. This involves integrating nature into urban design, through nature-based solutions such as the creation of green spaces, the restoration of ecosystems and the implementation of sustainable drainage systems. These initiatives not only help mitigate the effects of global warming, but also improve ecosystem health and system metabolism.

Coasts

Adaptation to climate change in coastal zones is a crucial challenge. These territories, which combine natural and human elements, are subject to functional and morphological changes that affect both ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. We are pioneers in the implementation of instruments that promote the comprehensive planning and design of coasts, addressing their resilience to the effects of climate change in an economic, ecological and social way, based on a thorough knowledge of the place and its dynamics.

Knowledge

Research into new technologies, materials and design approaches is the foundation on which we build sustainable and resilient solutions. By integrating communication, research, outreach and teaching into our practice, we not only elevate the quality of our projects, but also contribute to a more livable, biodiverse and resilient world. Architecture and landscape architecture have the power to transform spaces and communities, and it is our responsibility to use that power in a conscious and collaborative way.

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Adaptation and Resilience

Adaptation to climate change is essential to ensure that our cities and buildings are resilient. This involves a thorough understanding of systems and the evolution of climate variables, as well as the use of innovative technologies and the implementation of nature-based measures to ensure that communities can recover and thrive in a changing environment. Thus, each project becomes a laboratory of ideas, challenging the limits of design to create more resilient and humane spaces and places.

Biodiversity and Regeneration

The principles of biodiversity and regeneration underscore the interconnection between humans and non-humans to create sustainable environments. We design spaces that integrate native flora and habitats that support biodiversity, transforming degraded areas into vibrant ecosystems. We consider cities as living organisms where infrastructure and ecology are intertwined. In our projects we implement practices that respect the environment by promoting the health of ecosystems and improving their metabolism. This integrated approach allows projects to not only respond to human needs, but also act as an agent of ecological regeneration.

Care and Well-Being

At the intersection of architecture and landscaping, wellness becomes an essential concept that goes beyond the construction of spaces. We seek to create a network of relationships between architectural and natural elements that favor the integral health of users. Each space, from natural light to the sound of water, acts as an actor that impacts emotional and physical well-being. We collaborate with diverse disciplines, recognizing that wellness is a dynamic process that emerges from interactions. Thus, each architectural decision is made with the intention of fostering social connection and personal reflection, creating an ecosystem where each individual can flourish.

Industrialization and Innovation

Industrialization and innovation are key to redefining contemporary architecture and landscaping. By integrating advanced technologies and industrialized methods, we not only accelerate processes, but also allow materials and techniques to connect organically with their context. Our philosophy promotes a dialogue between the human and the non-human, where every element of design has its own voice. This results in spaces that not only fulfill specific functions, but also favor adaptability and fluidity of use.

Near-Zero Emissions and Circularity

We seek to achieve near-zero emissions by redesigning our relationships with the environment and resources. Adopting a circular approach involves recognizing the history and purpose of each element in our projects, prioritizing those that can be reintegrated into the life cycle of the space. This not only improves the quality of life, but also reduces the carbon footprint. We also promote the creation of compact communities where services and resources are within everyone’s reach, reducing the need for transportation and encouraging social interaction.

Team

LANDLAB is led by two partners: Miriam García (PhD in Architecture, landscape architect and urban planner) and Jordi Miró (architect), who contribute with their vision and experience. Our working method combines design with interdisciplinary dialogue, so that each project starts with the constitution of a specific team that incorporates the necessary experts. Thus, architects, landscape architects, engineers, geographers, ecologists, economists and artists, among other professionals, collaborate together with the objective of understanding the different ecological, economic, social and cultural relationships around the project in order to establish integrated proposals. We believe it is essential to work with stakeholders and communities to translate complex visions into feasible actions. We collaborate with technicians, institutions and communities with the ultimate goal of connecting people with their environment and creating healthy and resilient spaces.