Collaboration
Collaboration is ingrained in the studio culture at lahznimmo and is integral to gaining insight and knowledge into different disciplines and ways of thinking. The team collaborates with clients, other architects, specialist sub consultants, builders and subcontractors.
lahznimmo has developed strategic relationships with architectural practices to complement in house resources and expertise when needed. These collaborative relationships provide the practice with the flexibility and agility to expand and contract as needed.
lahznimmo is experienced at managing the competing needs of multiple stakeholders, adapting to changing budgets and requirements, time constraints and working proactively within a team of subconsultants and contractors.
speculation
Speculation and the testing of different ideas and materials is an important aspect of lahznimmo’s design approach. There is never a single solution to a design problem. Challenging current thinking and experience and speculating on the future is important to creating buildings, which will cater to evolving technologies, lifestyles and needs.
dialogue
Our design approach is framed around entering into a dialogue with the client and with the project’s site and context. This allows all projects to evolve from particular combination of aspirations and site specific drivers.
Fundamental to the design process is carefully listening to clients – it is only by listening that it is possible to create spaces, which not only fulfil but exceed the client’s expectations.
An understanding of the physical, social and cultural context provides a conceptual departure point to develop ideas and strategies, which will inform the design development of a project.
Initial concepts are developed through the exploration of materials and surfaces and their relationship to the structure of a building. lahznimmo strives to create buildings that sit well in their environment and enhance the experience of being within a space and its surroundings.
lahznimmo adopts a ‘whole of project’ approach to the integration of environmentally sustainable strategies within their work, The team collaborates with clients and specialist consultants to develop and incorporate strategies early in the design process.
Observation through reviewing and analysing completed projects once they are inhabited is a critical part of the process. The practice does this by talking with clients and observing the way people use and respond to their environment, both design and accidental.
Technology
lahznimmo is continuously updating knowledge utilising the most current and innovative technology and CAD software. The office has been working in a BIM environment for over fourteen years. All projects are fully documented in 3D allowing for full visualisations and fly throughs at each phase of the project. The building model is ‘live’ throughout the design process from sketch design through to the end of construction.
The primary design and documentation package is ArchiCAD, which supports collaborative workflows with other BIM software packages and utilises IFC file exchange to allow 3 dimensional coordination between architects, engineers and contractors. Working collaboratively in a 3D environment provides lahznimmo and clients with greater confidence and efficiency in achieving design outcomes.