Designing for Discovery
Designing for discovery: how the UK is rethinking life sciences workspaces
An increasing share of our work at Pilbrow & Partners is focused on the life sciences and research sector - an area undergoing a quiet revolution. As we emerge from the widespread disruption of the pandemic, the imperative to reimagine workplaces for scientists has never been more urgent. These are the people driving innovation, yet for too long, they’ve been asked to do so in spaces that are bleak, overly functional, and emotionally disengaging.
We believe in a different approach.
Our practice takes genuine delight in designing and reimagining spaces that are not only highly functional but also beautiful, thoughtful, and soulful - places that reflect the humanity of those who work within them. In a sector where attracting and retaining the brightest minds is critical, the quality of the built environment must support wellbeing, collaboration, and inspiration.
As Emily Wright explores in her recent writing on the UK’s evolving life sciences landscape, there is a clear movement toward putting scientists first - as people, not just professionals. In her conversations with Fred Pilbrow and Tal Ben-Amar, she delves into our work at the Francis Crick Institute and Bicycle Therapeutics - projects that illustrate how considered architecture can lead the way in this vital, long-neglected area. We are proud to be at the forefront of this shift, shaping environments that enable discovery while honouring those who dedicate their lives to it.
‘Scientists are humans, too. While the lab environments have obviously got to be quite clinical and generic, collaboration spaces in life sciences buildings can, in contrast, be much richer and more materially diverse. I want these workplaces to be sensual and stimulating, not soulless.’
Fred Pilbrow
Read the full article here:
Designing for discovery: how the UK is rethinking life sciences workspaces - The Spaces
Read more about Pilbrow & Partners' projects:
Bicycle Therapeutics and Francis Crick Interior Reconfiguration
