PLP ARCHITECTURE

PLP Architecture was founded in 2009 by Lee Polisano, David Leventhal, Fred Pilbrow, Karen Cook and Ron Bakker, the former partners who were responsible for leading KPF’s London office over the last 20 years. Each of the founding partners
have over 20 years of professional experience delivering projects in the UK and abroad and have established a track record of designing awardwinning buildings. Such projects, designed whilst principals at KPF, include:

• The Heron Tower, London
• The Pinnacle, London
• Imperial College, Prince’s Garden redevelopment, London
• The Rothermere American Institute, University of Oxford
• Endesa Headquarters, Madrid
• Danube House, Prague
• Tour First (AXA), Paris
• The redevelopment of the World Trade Center Amsterdam
• Qatar Masterplan, Qatar
• Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Headquarters, Abu Dhabi
• The new Abu Dhabi International Airport, Abu Dhabi

PLP Architecture provides full architectural design and planning services for large and small-scale projects across a range of sectors including mixed use buildings, investment offices, corporate headquarters, urban design, masterplanning, retail developments, entertainment complexes, education facilities, institutional facilities, healthcare facilities, residential facilities, hotels, resorts, conference centres, museums, renovation, transportation.

Practice Philosophy
The distinctive collaborative working style of the PLP team underpins the philosophy of the new studio. The partners founded their own practice driven by the desire to further their pursuit of innovation, outstanding design and client engagement. The
firm anticipates building on the depth of the founders’ experience which encompasses local and international work on projects ranging in scale from an entire city masterplan to a small urban café.

The foundation of the work lies in a commitment to the quality of life in the city, a delight in the handling of material, space and light and an optimism about architecture’s potential to address the most pressing problems that confront today’s society.

Design and the Environment
At PLP we understand that economic vitality is reliant on and enhanced by social and environmental value. Our projects are evaluated against established building
industry performance standards for environmental compliance and represent the latest developments in design technology and sustainable practices. We support and promote a holistic sustainable design through an approach that recognizes the
interdependence of the architectural and engineering components of our projects. Our interdisciplinary collaboration with engineers, environmental and other industry
specialists is important to us to develop design concepts that integrate the most
efficient production and use of energy through active and passive design strategies. Our projects integrate new building technologies that create viable opportunities to reduce the dependence on non renewable and environmentally harmful energy. Sun, wind and light provide alternative energy, producing means to help supplement buildings’ energy consumption and promote conservation.

Computational Design and Research
The idea of computation in design derives from the realization that seemingly complex phenomena often have simple underlying causes.

In the last few years, the notion of controlling geometric systems through parametric design has become very strong. The Computational Design Group has been deeply involved in developing these geometric design systems in such projects as the Pinnacle and Abu Dhabi airport. The most important aspect of computational design is that it opens up design possibilities not previously practical. For example, forms which are geometrically complex - such as curvature - can be reconfigured through editable parameters. Design is achieved through an abstract model which can achieve a wide range of forms. The buildings emerging from such a system are ‘pre-rationalized’; the geometric rules ensure that key constructional rules are obeyed.

A parametric model encompasses a vast range of alternatives. But what drives the parameters? The Computational Design Group is focused on developing the technologies and techniques that will make the manipulation and choice of parameters scientific and inclusive of all the areas of design - from environmental to structural, architectural or urban design values.

In practical terms, it means that rather than examining a few hundred alternative schemes, the scope is open to generate and evaluate thousands, even millions, of schemes for a given design.

The Research group at PLP is dedicated to examining and utilizing new and emerging technologies. One of the precursors for this type of work is digital simulations. PLP has its own rendering groups for creating images and animations which show the
practical achievements available in the digital world. Energy flow simulations,
fluid dynamics, finite element analysis and a variety of other computational tools are harnessed to work together and will increasingly be used by computational designers.

Designers today are creating the future; PLP Computation Design group is determined to help the future be a better, more enjoyable environment though enhanced and more intelligent design.


Experience in:
EUROPE AND CIS:
Czech Republic, France, Netherlands, Spain, UK

MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA
Qatar, UAE (Abu Dhabi)


Sectors and Disciplines
Architecture: Architects
Architecture: Interior design
Architecture: Regeneration
Architecture: Sustainable urbanism
Architecture: Urban design
Architecture: Urban regeneration
Education: Construction / building & design
Education: Schools / universities
Healthcare: Building & design
Infrastructure: Architects
Infrastructure: Buildings
Infrastructure: Commercial / retail
Infrastructure: Hospitals
Infrastructure: Hotels & tourism
Infrastructure: Housing
Infrastructure: Leisure
Infrastructure: Schools / universities
Tourism: Hotel & tourism infrastructure
Tourism: Museums
Tourism: Sport & leisure facilities
Transport: Airports

SECTORS AND DISCIPLINES

EXPERIENCE IN