Labics

Labics architecture was founded by Maria Claudia Clemente, Francesco Isidori and Marco Sardella in 2002. The main aim was to convey, under a unique name, those architects, artists and designers who identify with a shared experimentation project in the field of architecture.

Labics research activity aims at an architecture capable of overcoming the status of a singular object, in favor of an architecture that becomes territory, background, structure.

This territorial and structured architecture of Labics detects settlement principles capable of establishing dialectic relationships with the surrounding environment and building a field rich in possibilities, a public and shared space. From 2002 to 2008 Labics has accomplished many professional assignments.

In 2002 it won the restricted competition for the design of the New Itama Shipyard Headquarters in Rome and the restricted competition proposed by Technint Spa for the design of the University Didactic Complex (CDU) in Rozzano (MI) of which it then carried out the scheme design (2004). It has completed the renovation project of Podere 43 in Albinia (GR); and commissioned by “F&B spa”, it designed the concept for the “Obikà” chain of bar and restaurants.

In 2003 Maire Engineering commissioned Labics the proposal for the project of the urban renovation of the entire Lungotevere in Augusta, facing the new Museum of Ara Pacis. In November it presented its work at the workshop “L’Habitat, un enjeu de qualité”, in Brussels. In December it was mentioned for the project proposed at the Workshop for the new “Skiing Station on Etna Nord”.

In 2004 Labics was mentioned in the Design competition for the Renovation of the Monfero Monastery in Galicia, Spain; the new headquarters of Italpromo & Libardi associati and the first Obikà restaurant in Rome have been completed. In May Labics was invited to present its works at the lecture cycle “New Faces” at the Fachhochschule, Liechtenstein; that same year it won the Archés Architecture Award 2004 edition (third prize) for the design of the “Italpromo & Libardi associati” project.

In 2005 it worked at the Master plan of a housing development in Tirana (Albania), it designed and realized the Obikà restaurants in Milan and London, participated with Pirelli Real Estate and Techint Spa in the Project Financing for the New Hospital in Castelli Romani (still under evaluation). It was invited to participate in the Italy Now exhibition at Cornell University, Ithaca.

In 2006 it won the restricted competition proposed by DG for the “improvement of the Former Enel Area in Bologna”. It was invited by Maire Engineering to design, in teamwork with Metrogramma, the new Ferrari assembly building in Maranello. It participated in the “Water Power” joint project for the new requalification of the Mills Valley in Amalfi, and it won the Silver Global Holcim Award for the same project. It drew the construction design for a residential development in Nepi, and created the whole sign system for the Trajan’s Markets.

In 2007 it won the restricted competition advertised by Comune di Roma and Atac for the project of an urban renovation located in Rome, in Via della lega Lombarda.

Labics has been invited by Techint to participate in the competition for the realization of Campus Tenova and participated, together with the winning team composed by Maire Tecnimont, Pirelli and Fingen, in the Pentagramma project, for the development of the Geological Institute in Rome. Finally, it completed “the Bar” and “Obikà” inside the food floor of Rinascente in Milan.

In 2008 it was the winner for the "Nuovo Ospedale di Milano" project, with the team composed of Techint (group leader) Boeri Studio, C+S and Camillo Botticini. At present, it is working at the executive design of a square in the Municipality of Rozzano (MI) and many Obikà restaurants in Turin, London and Kuwait city.

Labics’ activities are published on the major specialized international magazines, among which: A+U, Domus, Abitare, Ottagono, Architectural Record, Monument, Concept, AIT.