Labs Tower

Located in the heart of the city, an area which is enjoying a serious revamping, the Excelsior is a mixed use statement of intent. Its vocabulary talks of an almost brutal transparency, starting with the structural system and proceeding to categorically define elements according to their function. This is most apparent at the ‘junctions’ between main elements, where the structure is exposed and common functions are located. A further development of this is the creation of hub offices over double height spaces, with their inherent individuality.

The scheme includes both residential and office elements in a move that reflects a wider urban trend which is rapidly becoming relevant to the islands cityscapes. There is a trend towards designs being wrapped in a complete skin. This design bucks that trend, providing a scheme which is clearly legible as a kit of parts, functions, zones, facilities but still reads as an entity.