MLA+

Our founder and partner Markus Appenzeller Markus has been appointed as Professor for Urban and Rural Planning, leading the Urbanism Department at Shenzhen International School of Design (SISD). SISD is a newly founded school under hosted by the Harbin Institute of Technology HIT, co-founded by the Zurich University of the Arts and in close collaboration with the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalunya IAAC. Markus will be involved in both, education and research, as well as advice for public and private clients. With his new role, Markus will bring new insights to MLA+ and further our agenda of international collaboration and combining local knowledge with global expertise. SISD | Shenzhen International School of Design, Harbin Institute of Technology #SISD #Shenzhen #Design #Urbanism

It's always great to see plans that were long in the making finally materialise. For a Chinese company, we designed the landscape for their regional headquarters in Shanghai. Rather than a landscape, it turned out to be a '#Throughscape': an all encompassing green system that not only covers the surroundings, terraces and the roof, but also penetrates the entire building, transcending the differentiation between inside and outside and between building and landscape. Stay tuned for the outcome!

How can we make the world's biggest garden city more resilient against the effects of climate change and other hazards? This is the question we are asking ourselves in our work for the State of Kerala in South-western India with it's one of a kind urban fabric. We - that is CRISIL Limited TSPA and MLA+ It is great to work with knowledgable colleagues and the many different officers involved in urban development and learn from each other when jointly working towards ambitious, yet realistic and implementable solutions. Stay tuned for the results! #india #rimp #kerala #resilience

It is good to go back to previous work, pay it a visit and see what went well and what did less so. With a group of students, our own @markusappenzeller went back to our Liu Xian Dong Vanke Cloud City micro apartment block in Shenzhen. Five years after completion, it if constantly fully rented out and has developed into a lively local community with intensely used shared spaces and facilities and an active plinth all around. But not only the building has become an active player in the urban game. The entire neighbourhood has transformed from a post-industrial wasteland into a cutting edge tech community with the likes of DJI, the most famous drone manufacturer that is headquartered next door. We are looking forward to coming back and study how it will look like in another five years. Promised! https://lnkd.in/eUQxNVQA #shenzhen #china #cloudcity #dji #postoccupancy

"There is nothing permanent except change." Heraclitus After 12 years at MLA+, our associate director Martin Probst is leaving MLA+ to take up the role of Associate Director Cities at Buro Happold. We are infinitely grateful for his dedication to our cause, his great ideas, and his encouraging leadership during all these years. Since he has been at MLA+ from the start, we asked Martin to look back and reflect on the change we brought about. The ensuing discussions lead to a book titled "CHANGE PATTERNS" in the work of MLA+. Under three drivers of change - transformation, climate and collaboration - it depicts our way of thinking about the problems we are facing and how they can be addressed. Change Patterns is available for download here https://lnkd.in/ecfhKfRD Martin, we wish you all the best in your new capacity! Thank you! Martin Probst Buro Happold #thankyou #change

CHANGE is imminent and it is happening. We believe that the driving force behind our work is instigating change for a better tomorrow. That is what drives our curiosity and makes us develop ideas every day. Our new website focusses on that aspect of our work. Pay us a visit! https://mlaplus.com/

How can spatial planning in the Netherlands embrace a different model? For a country that somehow has invented a big part of today's culture of planning that is no small question. Following an interview with government advisor Wouter Veldhuis, or own Markus Appenzeller comes with a model that could make room for a more inclusive and participatory approach (in Dutch). https://lnkd.in/eV8q39Up

MLA+ wishes all obeying the month of CHANGE RAMADAN MUBARAK!

ITDP, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy is running a nice article about the Car-Free Day in Shenzhen's Shekou District. This day where people take to the streets and reclaim what long has been surrendered to cars and turn the carriageway into an urban festival space has been made possible by the local community with the help of MLA+, ITDP and others. Is this a change pattern to use elsewhere as well? If you want to know more about how this came about and what role our "Ice Crosswalk" played, the check the link or drop us a message. We are happy to share our experience in changing cities with the local community. https://lnkd.in/eUkWtdeC Photo: ITDP #shenzhen #shekou #carfreeday #reclaimstreets #community #change #changepatterns #itdp

The entire MLA+ team wishes you Happy New Year of the Dragon! We want to use this opportunity to thank you for your trust and faith in us, your collaboration with us, or simply your interest in our work. May all the good luck, strength and health be with you!