creating work that builds a regenerative relationship

with climate, culture, and future inhabitants

    pursuing harmonious architecture    

THE PAST

Expanded Vernacular

We conduct Anthropological research studies of cultures with a harmonious relationship to their surroundings. We live on site for an extended period of time, documenting, drawing, and collecting information into a preservation focused research document.

Hunting for examples of synergy, collaboration, and harmony with nature in our past. Through anthropological studies and living on site for longer periods of time, we dig deep into a culture’s code. Through cultural archaeological explorations studying the past constructions of mankind, we hunt for strategies of harmony. 

Clarifying those techniques into principles, into ways of being, into ways of building, and replicating them to truly understand their values and rule sets. 

Expanding upon, and digging into those techniques and principles to go further, to test how much and in what new ways can we collaborate with the energy all around us - what next? 

Follow the thought... Only by looking back, can you clarify your aim when looking forward. 

THE PRESENT

Sensitive, Slow, Intentional

Daily Practice

We are a slow and intentional practice based on learning from the wisdom of the past, living directly on site with the future residents, and understanding deep cultural nuance that cannot be gleaned from off-site or from a short site visit. We work to document, uncover, and regenerate the seeds of  important cultural genetic code.

Rather than focusing on designing a specific form, we focus on understanding the underlying code that creates the physical form. 

Designing the pattern language, designing the rule set by which something will grow and decay through time, allows for a multiplicity of possible outcomes - all variations of the same values and patterns, just as nature creates. No flower is the same, yet none is less beautiful because of it’s shape or form. 

We aim to understand contextual dimensions - heat, time, light, humidity, decay - in harmony with the architectural dimensions of space, form and human experience. 

THE FUTURE

Utopian Speculation

The present cannot be understood solely from looking back, there must be a clear, optimistic direction forward. Following in the footsteps of great Utopian thinkers before us, unbridled creative speculation is expansive and necessary to imagine a truly beautiful future. 

With clarity of the desired future, comes greater understanding of the present. 

We are Utopian architects, explorers of a beautiful future. We are experimental, taking each thought to it’s logical end, into the realm of the vast, bright possible. 

Judging every daily design decision against the future that we want to contribute to. What is the best possible future outcome?

How beautiful can we make the future?

What action today would lead closer to that future?

Do today’s decisions reinforce that future or undermine it? 

CREATING SENSITIVE AND TIME INFORMED ARCHITECTURE

Studio Lara is a full service Architectural and research firm.

We focus on creating architecture that

is in harmonious relationship -

to climate, to culture, to inhabitants -

through the study of local Anthropology,

the creation of regenerative Architecture

and Intentional Preservation.

We aim to help create a future in which we can use natural forces to help build our environment.

We can create a future where we once again use nature’s power to help grow our buildings.

Studio Lara aims to learn from the millenia of natural and human built structures that has come before to study how we can work with, rather than against, natural forces.

The Architectural Design Process

  • Understand the site’s potential and constraints

    Explore desired experiences

    Design response: site and concept talk to each other in sketches, imagery and interactions

    Experience concepts: different possibilities are presented: bold to subtle in form, light, materials

  • The site response is established

    Design immersion and collaboration

    Precedents set the mood, create/gauge emotion

    Design intent is endorsed; scope is agreed

    Technical proposal drafted for council submission

  • Design and form are established

    Client and architects work closely to realise the project as a wider team of consultants join the team

    Consultant scope and responsibilities are clear and managed

    Materials are specified and feature finishes are established

  • Client is advised and supported as a builder is selected and permits secured

    The project will be build as per the design intent

    Documentation is completed to ensure the work of builders, specialist craftspeople and specific materials suppliers are costed and aligned

  • Client engagement is consistent and planned

    A can-do attitude is taken when addressing unforeseen problems

    The architects monitor and guide project completion to the highest quality and design standards