Urban planning, as a whole, is often misunderstood. Due to the complexity and expertise required to combine multiple areas of city design into a feasible working outcome, it often becomes difficult to grasp how urban planning differs from traditional architectural design. The foundation of urban design and planning, in simplest terms, is the large-scale creation by urban designers of an entire city or town, taking into consideration people, infrastructure, and essential green spaces to encourage harmonic interaction of all these factors. Along with this, architectural planning has witnessed a paradigm shift in the last few years due to the rise, use, and availability of specialized computer software.
Advancements in digital design tools such as computer-controlled fabrication, connection, and interconnection have led to a new phase of design and the process of building and construction. KIRK Studio, an international architectural practice, is a technical, process-driven firm with expertise in architecture, urban design, and environmentally sustainable design, with studios in Brisbane, Australia, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The diverse practice works on all project scales, from furniture to cultural facilities, university buildings and large master plans. Founded in 1995, the firm has won numerous awards, with work published widely across the globe.
“KIRK is committed to developing and establishing new benchmarks for sustainability in the buildings the practice creates. An example is the Advanced Engineering Building which has set entirely new benchmarks for sustainability in the sub-tropical and temperate climates. This dedication to buildings that respond and embrace the opportunities the climate offers sets the work of the practice apart”, stated Richard Kirk LFRAIA, Founder & Director, KIRK Studio.
Differentiating Factors for Urban Planning & Design
While promoting, advancing, and delivering sustainable design solutions, KIRK is dedicated to creating authentic structures. KIRK uses a wide range of technologically advanced tools that
assess the conceptual performance of their ideas, moving far beyond BIM design and documentation. KIRK’s business model, built on numerous studios, employs project-focused teams to distinguish themselves within the industry and create a supportive, creative, exploratory, and collaborative practice. As a project-focused studio, KIRK takes on fewer projects than other designers and planners to guarantee that the leadership team is involved at every stage. In doing so, their clients benefit from the studio’s 25+ years of expertise in their projects through each phase and enjoy it. In order to provide the design process assurance, Richard Kirk, the studio founder, leads the process at each level. In addition to this, KIRK is also a research-based business. Advanced Buildings and Cities (ABC) is a KIRK-owned internal research team. Their primary focus is improving the urban precincts’ and buildings’ environmental microclimates.
The ABC team accomplishes this by providing measurable performance standards and guidelines for precinct planning and structural design. According to the business, KIRK is the only architectural firm in Australia that offers this special embedded environmental solution. “Our built environment is something within our control. The design of our environment has the power to change our climate. If we can change our usage without changing our behavior, we have a compelling way of combating climate change. Our advanced climatic parametric design tools allow us to create truly informed, passive building and urban designs through analysis and simulation. We can accurately mitigate the negative effects of climate through this process”, added Richard Kirk.
The Plan Ahead
Low-carbon construction and structures are the way of the future for urban planning and design. This calls for a high level of analysis in terms of microclimate, material utilization, planning, design, and detailing. Low-carbon development is not viable with typical steel and concrete structures. The global trend toward using timber for buildings is accelerating because it is the only renewable building resource.
KIRK has a business model built on numerous studios employing project-focused teams in order to distinguish out in the industry
KIRK understands the importance of climactically adaptive structures and is at the forefront of Mass Engineered Timber (MET) building design, detailing, and delivery which is an integral part of their future roadmap. KIRK has a keen sense of awareness around sustainable design that goes beyond energy and water use to focus on decarbonization. Additionally, with climate responsive design being the driver for their approach, the firm has now looked north to SE Asia and has since worked in several other countries, such as Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.
Richard Kirk Lfraia, Founder & Director
Richard Kirk is the Principal Director of KIRK, formerly Richard Kirk Architect, which he established in 1995 after graduating from the University of Queensland in 1991. He practices as a leader in designing buildings of cultural significance on sensitive and vital sites, with most of his commissions awarded through design competitions. His achievements include winning first prize in design competitions for the University of Queensland’s flagship buildings: the Advanced Engineering Building & UQ Business School; and Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, Learning Hub North Spine.
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