llLab. is a design studio originating in Stuttgart, Germany, with offices based in Shanghai and Porto, operating within the fields of architecture, design, art, urbanism, research and development. The studio is led by four partners: Hanxiao Liu, Luis Ricardo, David Correa and Taichi Kuma. Their work focuses on using design as a tool to improve social and cultural life, exploring 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.
llLab. founders Hanxiao Liu and Luís Ricardo started their own practice after they met in the German office haascookzemmrich STUDIO 2050, where they worked as core members in various international projects, to point out one of the 6 shortlisted finalists from the 1,715 submissions received for the Guggenheim Helsinki Competition, among other projects, including the Mercedes-Benz Cultural Center and the Fragrant Lake Residential District in Beijing.
Hanxiao Liu, founding partner. Registered architect in Germany. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering of applied science from the University of British Columbia, Canada, a Master of Architecture and a Certificate in Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. He became an architect at Haascookzemmrich STUDIO2050 in Stuttgart, Germany. In 2016, llLab. was established in cooperation with Luis Ricardo, David Correa and Taichi Kuma.
Luis Ricardo, founding partner. Registered architect in Portugal. He holds a Master in Architecture from the Faculty of Architecture, University of Porto. Between 2008 and 2010, he worked with RCR Arquitectes, Olot, Spain. He collaborated between 2010 and 2015 at ForStudio Architects, Portugal. He worked at Haascookzemmrich STUDIO2050 in Stuttgart, Germany and met Hanxiao Liu. In 2015, together with Hanxiao Liu, David Correa and Taichi Kuma, established llLab.
