sLAB
Instead of having a Research & Development department, we have created a dynamic Research & Development network that we can all step in and out of. We call this sLAB.
The underlying reason is that we strongly believe 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 sLAB we ensure a tight bond between our research and our 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.
sLAB is part of our work culture
With sLAB, 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 letting it be 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 how to make the sound of trickling water mitigate traffic noise in the best possible way.
sLAB is research
Through sLAB, 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
Why Darkness Matters: Acknowledging the Rhythms of Nature
When did you last see a starry night sky? For city-dwellers, this experience may feel like a distant memory. Our extensive use of artificial light has turned ‘darkness’ into a diminishing phenomenon – not only affecting stargazers but also the health of humans, wildlife, and trees. As Pernille Bech-Larsen, lighting designer at SLA, will unfold, we have plenty of good reasons to let a little more darkness into our cities.
The Values of Nature:
A Need for a New Driver of Urban Development
Imagine your quality of life being just as dependent on urban development as on social media. What would that lead to? The answer to that question depends on the drivers of urban development.
Our economies, livelihoods, and well-being all depend on our most precious asset: Nature
These were the opening lines of Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta’s report “The Economics of Biodiversity” and were also at the center of the conversation our CEO, Mette Skjold, had with Dasgupta at the UIA World Congress of Architects CPH 2023.
They agreed that we, as humans, depend on nature – not only as a source of resources and wealth but also as the foundation for our physical and mental well-being. We are not separate from nature. We are nature.
Interested in doing a R&D collaboration?
Head of sLAB, Alexandra Vindfeld Hansen, organizes the sLAB 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
R&D Director, Partner, Landscape Architect MDL
