"llLab."

LLLab. is a design studio based in Shanghai, Stuttgart and Porto operating within the fields of architecture, design, art, urbanism, research and development. The studio is led by four partners Hanxiao Liu, Luís Ricardo, David Correa and Taichi Kuma. Their work focuses on using design as a tool to improve social and cultural life through various scales, from urban projects to micro-architecture or installations. The principals are driven by an experimental and playful approach that leads to conceptually rigorous and well-executed design projects. Creating distinctive solutions adapted to a context and its users, LLLab produces site-specific design installations and building projects that both provoke and inspire.

LLLab. founders Hanxiao Liu, Luís Ricardo and David Correa started their own practice after meeting at the German office haascookzemmrich STUDIO 2050 and the Institute of Computational Design, where they collaborated on various international projects in both practical and academic fields. Key projects include the Mercedes-Benz Cultural Center, the Fragrant Lake Residential District in Beijing, and the Guggenheim Helsinki Competition (in which the team’s entry became one of 6 shortlisted finalists, from the 1,715 submissions). In addition to their series of award-winning design projects, Liu, Ricardo, Correa and Kuma have also worked at SOM in New York, RCR Arquitectes in Barcelona, Kobayashi + Zedda Architects in Whitehorse, Canada, and Kuma & Associates Europe in Paris, France, respectively.

LLLab. projects have been widely published in international press including Archdaily, Domus, FRAME, while their design research work has been featured at multiple international venues including the Keller Gallery at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the BOZAR Center for Fine Arts in Brussels among others.

Hanxiao Liu
Born in 1985
University of Britich Columbia Bachelor of Applied Science (Mechanical Engineering)
University of Pennsylvania - Master of Architecture and Certificate in Landscape Studies

Luís Ricardo
Born in 1985
University of Oporto Faculty of Architecture - integrated Master in Architecture, FAUP

Asst Prof. David Correa
Born in 1981
Ryerson University - Bachelor in Architectural Science
University of Calgary - Masters of Architecture.
University of Stuttgart, ICD - PhD

Dr. Taichi Kuma
Born in 1985
University of Tokyo - Graduate School
ICD, University of Stuttgart - Guest PhD student
ITECH , University of Stuttgart -Master of Science
University of Tokyo - PhD course

Awards

Hanxiao Liu
Guggenheim Helsinki Now. Shortlisted finalists for Guggenheim Helsinki Competition (in haascookzemmrich STUDIO 2050).
Second prize in Mercedes-Benz Campus, Stuttgart, Germany. (in haascookzemmrich STUDIO 2050).
Third prize in Merceds-Benz Cultural Center, Beijing, China. (in haascookzemmrich STUDIO 2050).
Arthur Spayd Brooke Memorial Prize Gold Medal ( former winners include Louis I. Kahn). - University of Pennsylvania
E. Lewis Dales Traveling Fellowship. - University of Pennsylvania

Luís Ricardo
Selected for the “Habitar Portugal 2012-14” exposition and publication.
Guggenheim Helsinki Now. Shortlisted finalists for Guggenheim Helsinki Competition (in haascookzemmrich STUDIO 2050).
First prize winner in Rheinschloss Wohnturm, Germany (in haascookzemmrich STUDIO 2050).
Selected for FAD2014 Awards.
Casabella 835 “Architects under 30”.
First prize winner in the Creativity Award with the project LandCork.
Selected to build the Portugal Pavilion in International Book Fair, Bogotá 2013.
National Prize for Creative Industries - PNIC Serralves and UNICER.
First prize winner in La Cuisine Art Center, Négrepelisse, France, 2009 (in RCR arquitectes).
First prize winner in Bawadi Hotel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2008 (in RCR arquitectes).

Asst Prof. David Correa
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada PGS-D
Royal Architecture Institute of Canada Student Medal / Honor Roll Award, 2012
Nominated - Governor General of Canada Gold Medal Excellence Award, 2012
EVDS fellowship – University of Calgary
SSEF Excellence Award in Steel Design
Toronto Soc. of Architects Award for Excellence in Architecture design studio

Dr. Taichi Kuma
Structural design competition, Judge’s Prize (Yusuke Obuchi), “Flexible Architecture”, 2014
Analysis and Generation of Structural Shapes and Systems (JIA), First Prize, “Collaborative Material Architecture”, 2013
Master thesis, 1st place in department of architecture and received the prize of the school of engineering, the University of Tokyo, 2012
Koizumi International Lighting Design Competition 24th, Gold Award (collaborated with Braverman Anna, Haruka Tomoeda, Shohei Takei), 2011