information based architecture

Our practice is based on the idea that information is currently the contemporary driving ingredient for a progressive architecture.
New architecture is formed by information derived from new requirements, new knowledge, shifts in ways of thinking, and made possible by new materials and new technologies.

We see architecture as the art of forming new interesting organizations on the basis of this new information.

Information based architecture
(IBA) was set up in London in 1998 as a partnership between architects Mark Hemel and Barbara Kuit. In a relatively short time the practice has made fame by winning some of the most prestigious international competitions among which the competition for the world's tallest TV tower in Guangzhou, China (now under construction). The practice specializes in large-scale architectural and urban projects. It's highly talented international workforce, it's extensive resources and performance-based approaches put it in an ideal position to deal with large-scale architectural projects that are concerned with the most complex program. For it's designs, the practice makes use of the latest digital technology and presentation techniques; ranging from the latest software scripts, to photo realistic rendering, to 3D rapid prototype printing.

IBA can be typified as both 'experimentaL' and 'progressive'. It constantly attempts to extend the boundaries of artistic design, while also introducing the newest digital technologies. IBA was therefore also short listed in 2002 for the Young Architects of the Year Award in the United Kingdom. And received several endorsement grants from the Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture.

Currently based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with a subsidiary in Guangzhou, IBA continues its work on both large and small projects in Europe and Asia. It's full portfolio embracing all scales, ranging from urban master planning to architecture, private houses, and furniture design.

Mark Hemel teaches at the Architectural Association in London where he has been Unit-master since 1999. Before setting up practice, Barbara Kuit worked as a local architect on projects of Philippe Starck in London; the Sanderson and St Martin's Lane hotels, and subsequently worked for several years with Zaha Hadid on many projects among which; the Mind Zone in the Millennium Dome, London, the Contemporary Arts Center in Rome and Wolfsburg Science Center in Germany.

Partners -

Mark Hemel
Mark Hemel studied at the Technical University of Delft and subsequently graduated from Jeff Kipnis' Graduate Design Program at the Architectural Association. He received several scholarships for research in Africa and Asia from the Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture.
He is Unit-master at the Architectural Association in London since 1999 and taught for several years at the post-graduate Environment and Energy program. In 2003 he received the RIBA Bronze Medal Tutor Award.

Barbara Kuit
Graduated from the Technical University Delft, The Netherlands. Worked as a local architect in cooperation with Philippe Starck in London on the Sanderson and St Martins Lane Hotels. Subsequently worked at the office of Zaha Hadid in London, on the Mind zone in the Millennium Dome in London-Greenwich; on the Contemporary Arts Centre in Rome; the Wolfsburg Science Centre in Germany; and on many other competitions and projects.
Member of the do-group; an international inter-disciplinary research-group.

IBA's Contributors -
Patty Lui
Nate Kolbe
Stefan All
Roumpini Makridou
Howard Chung
Camille Maury
Ana Castillo
Kelvin Chu Ka Wing
Xiaolan Lin
Tim den Dekker
Anna Schepper
Rena Logara
Linjie Wang
Eva Prelovsek
Daniel Schiffelers
Moe Ekapob
Dave Morison
Max Kahlen
Pil Won Kim

awards - competitions

2006	First Prize in invited competition for the Guangzhou TV-station.
2004	First Prize in invited competition for the Guangzhou Sightseeing & TV-tower. Other teams participating in the competition were; Richard Rogers Partnership, Architecture Studio, Coop Himmelblau, and KPF.
2002	October 2002, RIBA Bronze Medal tutor Award, tutor of Daniel Coll i Capdevila, awarded project concerned a open-air classroom designed and built by students in Pankese, Ghana. Judged by Kazuo Seijema, Ben van Berkel, Wiel Arets.
2001	Shortlisted finalist in the international two stage competition for an Audio-visual Lab Leipzig; organised by The Leipzig Academy of Visual Arts. Selected out of initial 200 international applicants to submit a design in the second stage of the competition, in collaboration with Ove Arup and partners.
2001	Third prize winner in the Competition for the planning of the central part of Narva; organised by the city government of Narva, together with the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and the Union of Estonian Architects.
1999	Runner-up in the second stage of the Sarajevo Concert Hal Competition. Shortlisted out of 920 submissions as one of five competitors admitted to the second stage of the competition. Judged by Zaha Hadid, Francesco dal Co. In collaboration with Ove Arup and partners on acoustics, structure, services, fire and theatre-consultancy. Our work of this competition has been exhibited in Rome (at the Biennale in June 1999), in Sarajevo (August 1999), and Paris (May 2000).
1996	Finalist in U.I.A. Barcelona Football Club Competition, published in U.I.A. Barcelona 96 Competitions, Judged by Alejandro Zaera-Polo and Farshid Moussavi.
1995	Honourable Mention in Shinkenchiku Residential Design Competition, published in Japan Architect no. 20 1995-4 judged by Jean Nouvel
1994	Honourable Mention Yokohama Ferry Terminal Competition (as part of AAGDG 94) judged by Rem Koolhaas and Toyo Ito.