Research & Development
Instead of having a Research & Development department, we have created a dynamic Research & Development network that we can all step in and out of.
The underlying reason is our strong belief in a practice where research and development are for all. And we take seriously the fact that places for all life can only be created through interdisciplinary knowledge-sharing and collaborations.
Through our R&D network, we ensure a tight bond between our research and practice; we nurture a studio culture where sharing, continuous education, and employee-driven innovation are central qualities; and we ensure that our staff’s collective experience and knowledge are made accessible in our projects.
Research & Development is part of our work culture
With our R&D network, we’ve created a work culture with room for continuous learning and sharing across disciplines. On a practical level, we work towards that goal by making it a formalized part of our everyday:
We read, sense, and explore together. We let challenges change hands to ensure a cross-pollination of our projects. And we dive deep into specific topics when relevant for a project. This can be everything from soil conditions and materials to new solutions for climate adaptation and ways to make the sound of trickling water mitigate traffic noise in the best possible way.
Research
Through our work with R&D, we also initiate and engage in numerous research projects: From internal white papers and cross-office innovation projects to external collaborations with universities, NGOs, businesses, and intergovernmental agencies.
Explore our research and development
The ravines of Toronto: The city’s living icon
When we think of urban icons, our minds tend to go to skylines, towers, and plazas – the things we build to represent who we are. But sometimes, the true icons of a city are not designed at all. They are shaped by time, water, geology, and the quiet persistence of life itself. For Toronto, that icon is its ravines.
From data to daily life: How SLIM helped design 104 parks for Abu Dhabi
Nature is our origin. The city is our forgetting
What if the city isn’t broken because of noise or pollution – but because it has lost its meaning? And what if the true green transition doesn’t start with energy systems but with our senses?
In his new op-ed in Byrummonitor, SLA’s founder Stig L. Andersson argues that the current crisis of civilization – from climate breakdown to mental health — is rooted in how we’ve designed our cities to disconnect us from nature.
Interested in doing a R&D collaboration?
Head of R&D, Alexandra Vindfeld Hansen, organizes the network and manages our research and development partnerships.
If you are interested in learning more, she will be happy to hear from you.
Contact us to know more
Alexandra Vindfeld Hansen
Portfolio Director, R&D Director, Partner, Landscape Architect MDL