WLA Artificial Intelligence Lab | Shanghai, China
WLA Artificial Intelligence Lab sits within Shanghai’s Lingang district, a newly developing global community for research and innovation. With architecture by UK-based PLP Architecture and interior design by Hassell Studios, the building’s design is inspired by the CPU and is comprised of two forms layered one on top of the other. StudioSZ was engaged to photograph and film the project shortly before its grand opening.
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WLA AI Lab is a building composed of two distinct volumes which are clearly delineated both on the interior and the exterior. We set out to highlight and accentuate this contrast as we took on the challenge of photographing this very important project in Shanghai’s newly developed Lingang district.
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Since our initial commissioning client was the lighting designer, a primary challenge for this photoshoot was ensuring that we coordinated that the lighting would be turned on at the appropriate times. Our client preferred that the majority of the images be taken at either dusk or dawn when the building’s lighting really shines. The ideal time window for twilight is quite narrow, so this required us to shoot on several mornings and evenings in order to come away with the photographs we needed.
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Despite the building not yet being occupied, the StudioSZ team came away with a compelling set of photos showcasing WLA AI Lab’s best design attributes. With careful planning, we worked quickly during the tight blue hour timeframe to capture the building in a way that celebrated its lighting design.
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Developer: Parkland Group
Design Architect: PLP Architecture
Structural Engineer: ARUP
Landscape Designer: BAM
Interior Designer: Hassell Studio
Project Size: 32,000m2
Photoshoot Year: 2024
Scope: Architectural and Interior Photography and Videography
