About

The Laboratory for Explorative Architecture & Design (LEAD) is a young Hong Kong & Antwerp based architectural design and research practice founded by Belgian architect Kristof Crolla 高仕棠.

LEAD explores how architectural innovation can stem from the strategic integration and combination of contemporary design technology and highly contextual and project-specific parameters. Through its work LEAD rethinks the premise of digital design by anchoring the paradigm in a strong materiality: static preconceptions of space, geometry, materiality, building practice and construction technique are abandoned to allow for the creative exploration of new design & building methodologies in direct response to client briefs and project contexts.  LEAD’s scope covers a wide range of scales and its services stretch from initial design through construction up to project realisation.

Within its first five years of operation LEAD won a dozen design awards, including the Perspective 2012 40 under 40 Award, the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2013-2014 for “Golden Moon”, the 2012 Design For Asia Bronze Award for the Dragon Skin Pavilion,  and the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Arts Pavilion Design Competition – Commendation Entry, for M+ Arts Pavilion.