
WHAT IS Co:LAB?
Co.LAB, the Collaborative Laboratory, is a multifaceted organisation embedded within the School of Architecture & Design at Birmingham City University. We focus on design research, enterprise, employability and practice-led interdisciplinary exploration through collaborative practice as a key working methodology. It acts

WHAT IS Co:LAB?
Co.LAB, the Collaborative Laboratory, is a multifaceted organisation embedded within the School of Architecture & Design at Birmingham City University. We focus on design research, enterprise, employability and practice-led interdisciplinary exploration through collaborative practice as a key working methodology. It acts

HOW CAN YOU COLLABORATE WITH Co.LAB?
We are able to accommodate 3 ranges of service, each with their own structured programme, benefits, and likely costs. We will consider projects from most sectors but particularly encourage ones from not-for-profit organisations, charities, community groups and the public initiatives.

HOW CAN YOU COLLABORATE WITH Co.LAB?
We are able to accommodate 3 ranges of service, each with their own structured programme, benefits, and likely costs. We will consider projects from most sectors but particularly encourage ones from not-for-profit organisations, charities, community groups and the public initiatives.

COMPONENTS OF Co.LAB
Co (Collaborative) . LAB (LABORATORY) (noun) Co.LAB Co.LAB Module {part of the undergraduate and postgraduate architecture teaching programme} Co.LAB Office {the collective structured organization running Co.LAB} Co.LAB Projects {the portfolio of ‘live’ projects undertaken within or outside the teaching curriculum}

COMPONENTS OF Co.LAB
Co (Collaborative) . LAB (LABORATORY) (noun) Co.LAB Co.LAB Module {part of the undergraduate and postgraduate architecture teaching programme} Co.LAB Office {the collective structured organization running Co.LAB} Co.LAB Projects {the portfolio of ‘live’ projects undertaken within or outside the teaching curriculum}

WHY Co.LAB?
Co.LAB is an organisation embeded within the School of Architecture + Design at Birmingham City University. The school is part the Arts, Design & Media faculty (ADM) – the largest arts institution outside London. This comes with a vast array

WHY Co.LAB?
Co.LAB is an organisation embeded within the School of Architecture + Design at Birmingham City University. The school is part the Arts, Design & Media faculty (ADM) – the largest arts institution outside London. This comes with a vast array

DISCIPLINARITIES
Alexander Refsum Jensenius helpfully defines the connected discplinary actions as differing levels of knowledge integration and synthesis of approaches – with trans being a “unity beyond the disciplinary perspective.” Intradisciplinary: working within a single discipline. Crossdisciplinary: viewing one discipline from the

DISCIPLINARITIES
Alexander Refsum Jensenius helpfully defines the connected discplinary actions as differing levels of knowledge integration and synthesis of approaches – with trans being a “unity beyond the disciplinary perspective.” Intradisciplinary: working within a single discipline. Crossdisciplinary: viewing one discipline from the

AWARDS & TESTIMONIALS
Awards…. Nominee for Knowledge Exchange Initiative. The Times Higher Education Award, 2019 Practice Award for Knowledge Hub project with NODE, National Urban Design Awards, London. 2017. Biffa Award, Small Grants Award for Gallery and events space refurbishment, Birmingham Open Media.

AWARDS & TESTIMONIALS
Awards…. Nominee for Knowledge Exchange Initiative. The Times Higher Education Award, 2019 Practice Award for Knowledge Hub project with NODE, National Urban Design Awards, London. 2017. Biffa Award, Small Grants Award for Gallery and events space refurbishment, Birmingham Open Media.

THE COLLABORATIVE BLOG
From group work to multi-disciplinary teams, collaboration has and always been an integral part of any design project. Part of Co.lab’s research is to critically evaluate this process as a working method. The Collaborative Blog will accompany the ongoing research with

THE COLLABORATIVE BLOG
From group work to multi-disciplinary teams, collaboration has and always been an integral part of any design project. Part of Co.lab’s research is to critically evaluate this process as a working method. The Collaborative Blog will accompany the ongoing research with

PROJECT PORTFOLIO ARCHIVE
Co.LAB works across cultural institutions, arts organisations, the public sector, community groups, corporate enterprises and product/manufacturing industry. Do date we have undertaken over 100 projects across student live-projects electives, design research studies and consultancy. Over the years, as our project

PROJECT PORTFOLIO ARCHIVE
Co.LAB works across cultural institutions, arts organisations, the public sector, community groups, corporate enterprises and product/manufacturing industry. Do date we have undertaken over 100 projects across student live-projects electives, design research studies and consultancy. Over the years, as our project

THE Co.LAB NETWORK
“Connectivity is the single defining character of our 20th Century urban condition” – Me ++, William J. Mitchel Co.lab benefits from being part of the Birmingham School of Architecture & Design in a number of ways. The School has the longest-standing RIBA

THE Co.LAB NETWORK
“Connectivity is the single defining character of our 20th Century urban condition” – Me ++, William J. Mitchel Co.lab benefits from being part of the Birmingham School of Architecture & Design in a number of ways. The School has the longest-standing RIBA

STUDIO SPACE + WORKSHOPS
‘The museum and gallery on the one hand and the studio on the other are linked to form the foundation of the same edifice and the same system’ – Daniel Buren. Our organisation is located within the Birmingham School of

STUDIO SPACE + WORKSHOPS
‘The museum and gallery on the one hand and the studio on the other are linked to form the foundation of the same edifice and the same system’ – Daniel Buren. Our organisation is located within the Birmingham School of

SPACES FOR THE CITY
Creative spaces are a necessity for the culture of a city. Co.LAB has completed designs for a number of spaces to support different communities in their work: CENTRALA GALLERY Organisation: Polish Expats Association Location: Digbeth, Birmingham Function: Cafe, bookshop, gallery, office

SPACES FOR THE CITY
Creative spaces are a necessity for the culture of a city. Co.LAB has completed designs for a number of spaces to support different communities in their work: CENTRALA GALLERY Organisation: Polish Expats Association Location: Digbeth, Birmingham Function: Cafe, bookshop, gallery, office

RESEARCH
Whilst Co.LAB delivers projects as part of the BSoAD’s curriculum, we consider more than just designing temporary structures. Much of our work has an element of research intent supporting it – and we are able to utilise being embedded in

RESEARCH
Whilst Co.LAB delivers projects as part of the BSoAD’s curriculum, we consider more than just designing temporary structures. Much of our work has an element of research intent supporting it – and we are able to utilise being embedded in
Co.Lab The Shape of Touch The Architecture of The Handle
Owen, Tai, Aman, Yiting, Yitian Site – St James House, 1957 – John HD Madin Artist – Barbara Hepworth Design Development Inital ideas of our handle came from the natural and fluid forms of Hepworth sculptures, and the interior door
Co.Lab The Shape of Touch The Architecture of The Handle
Owen, Tai, Aman, Yiting, Yitian Site – St James House, 1957 – John HD Madin Artist – Barbara Hepworth Design Development Inital ideas of our handle came from the natural and fluid forms of Hepworth sculptures, and the interior door

THE SHAPE OF TOUCH
THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE HANDLE By Carlos Pajares Garcia, Eve Beardsley, Joella Spencer, Jaspal Mond Alpha Tower by Richard Seifert Net Layout Drawing of the Handle Design

THE SHAPE OF TOUCH
THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE HANDLE By Carlos Pajares Garcia, Eve Beardsley, Joella Spencer, Jaspal Mond Alpha Tower by Richard Seifert Net Layout Drawing of the Handle Design
Co.Lab The Shape of Touch – The Architecture of Handle
Simon, Alice and Nok Group Site: Birmingham New Street Station, Foreign Office Architects/AZPML, 2015 Artist: Ruth Claxton Sketches Visual drawings Research Initial sketches/ideas to the handle Collage of the initial idea Initial thought to the site Second initial sketch We
Co.Lab The Shape of Touch – The Architecture of Handle
Simon, Alice and Nok Group Site: Birmingham New Street Station, Foreign Office Architects/AZPML, 2015 Artist: Ruth Claxton Sketches Visual drawings Research Initial sketches/ideas to the handle Collage of the initial idea Initial thought to the site Second initial sketch We
Jewellery Multiplicity
Group 1 got the oppotunity to work with Wanshu Li and her “Go with the Glow” collection. As one of the outputs, we wanted to show off an idea we had where the users could view a space in 360.
Jewellery Multiplicity
Group 1 got the oppotunity to work with Wanshu Li and her “Go with the Glow” collection. As one of the outputs, we wanted to show off an idea we had where the users could view a space in 360.

Knowledge Exchange: Felix Woodhouse
How can engaging learning sessions in a remote environment have outcomes that can be shared to internal and external clientele? In Knowledge Exchange, our main objective was to identify issues within the practice, and come up with a solution to

Knowledge Exchange: Felix Woodhouse
How can engaging learning sessions in a remote environment have outcomes that can be shared to internal and external clientele? In Knowledge Exchange, our main objective was to identify issues within the practice, and come up with a solution to
Creating opportunities for small architectural practices by using social media platforms – James Gay
Introducing the Knowledge Exchange Module CoLAB is designed broadly to bridge an area of interest between academic study and professional reality. It is our task to undergo a kind of analysis and formulate an area of the profession we wish
Creating opportunities for small architectural practices by using social media platforms – James Gay
Introducing the Knowledge Exchange Module CoLAB is designed broadly to bridge an area of interest between academic study and professional reality. It is our task to undergo a kind of analysis and formulate an area of the profession we wish
Knowledge Exchange: Bilal Y. Rashid
Learning, Teaching and Exchange of Knowledge continued while in Practice Initially How can we develop a better and healthier working environment and urge interconnected office culture? I would like to explore how the working environment of an office can be
Knowledge Exchange: Bilal Y. Rashid
Learning, Teaching and Exchange of Knowledge continued while in Practice Initially How can we develop a better and healthier working environment and urge interconnected office culture? I would like to explore how the working environment of an office can be

Knowledge Exchange: Paige Maddox
Identifying a prominent issue within an architectural practice. Can we identify and navigate hidden boundries in client meetings to improve overall firm efficiency? Within the knowledge exchange module our aim is to identify a current issue within our own practice

Knowledge Exchange: Paige Maddox
Identifying a prominent issue within an architectural practice. Can we identify and navigate hidden boundries in client meetings to improve overall firm efficiency? Within the knowledge exchange module our aim is to identify a current issue within our own practice
Group 1 – Frameworks for Environmental Justice
Ryan Cooksey – Edit – Using text / images from the group submission. Our task: To design a toolkit Professional Practitioners who are involved with implementing ideas into the Ward End Community by focusing on factors to address Environmental Injustices.
Group 1 – Frameworks for Environmental Justice
Ryan Cooksey – Edit – Using text / images from the group submission. Our task: To design a toolkit Professional Practitioners who are involved with implementing ideas into the Ward End Community by focusing on factors to address Environmental Injustices.

Frameworks for Environmental Justice – Group 2
Initial research into Ward End Week 7: Finalisation of group outputs During our seventh project session, we were able to create a final plan for the outputs of our project. Through previous research and interviews, we had identified a number

Frameworks for Environmental Justice – Group 2
Initial research into Ward End Week 7: Finalisation of group outputs During our seventh project session, we were able to create a final plan for the outputs of our project. Through previous research and interviews, we had identified a number

PROJECT PROFILE: STEAMhouse
Organisation: Birmingham City University / STEAMhouse / Eastside Projects Location: Digbeth, Birmingham Function: Production workshops, event space, co-working, offices, creative project space Floor Area: 1650m2 STEAMhouse is an innovation centre with a production space for artists, designers and SMEs to

PROJECT PROFILE: STEAMhouse
Organisation: Birmingham City University / STEAMhouse / Eastside Projects Location: Digbeth, Birmingham Function: Production workshops, event space, co-working, offices, creative project space Floor Area: 1650m2 STEAMhouse is an innovation centre with a production space for artists, designers and SMEs to

Dual Works Storefront
DUAL WORKS STORE + WORKSHOP Organisation: Dual Works Location: Jewellery Quarter Function: Showroom, workshop Floor Area: 120m2 Dual Works is a design studio and makers workshop in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. They produce a number of home products

Dual Works Storefront
DUAL WORKS STORE + WORKSHOP Organisation: Dual Works Location: Jewellery Quarter Function: Showroom, workshop Floor Area: 120m2 Dual Works is a design studio and makers workshop in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. They produce a number of home products
You must be logged in to post a comment.