Rethinking Architecture with Salvaged Beginings
An old barn, a pontoon boat, and a dismantled exhibition might seem like unlikely starting points for architecture. But for THISS Studio, co-founded by architects Tamsin Hanke and Sash Scott, these offer rich materials for new designs in resourceful architecture. Their London-based practice spans cultural spaces, fashion, retail, and public installations, emphasizing sustainable use of existing resources. Hanke focuses on low-impact design, while Scott brings a penchant for material experimentation, drawing inspiration from his experience with high-performance kites.
Adaptive Design: Salvaged Materials Architecture from Barns to Boutiques
THISS Studio’s project, Barn Again, showcases their philosophy. Set for the 2025 Copenhagen Architecture Biennial, beams from abandoned Norwegian barns form a tapering pavilion, celebrating weathered surfaces and inviting further reuse. In London, a pontoon boat by artist Ryan Trecartin is reimagined as ceiling-mounted shelving at Kiko Kostadinov’s flagship shop. “Reuse suggests innovations we wouldn’t initially envision,” says Hanke, transforming objects with pre-established identities into new spatial roles.
Global Installations Reflecting Local Resources
In Cairo, THISS Studio’s Pergola project—a public outdoor theater—utilizes local reuse initiatives like textiles from river plastics and recycled bricks. Presented first in Birmingham and reappearing at the 2025 Glastonbury Shangri-La, the PoliNations installation exemplifies temporary architecture’s enduring influence, embodying sustainable design principles. “Reuse should enhance, not dilute, a project’s ambition,” asserts Hanke, integrating reclamation into the design process itself.
For those intrigued by the creative use of salvaged materials, Reclaimed Granite Transforms Victorian Cottage showcases another innovative approach to architectural reuse.
Exhibition Design: A New Lifecycle for Materials
For exhibitions, the studio’s approach reframes the lifecycle of materials. Hanke describes a display for the V&A, using an all-timber assembly devoid of metal fixings, thus prioritizing post-exhibition material utility. “The display’s design dictates the future utility of its materials,” notes Hanke. A collaboration with the Design Museum saw the studio catalog existing infrastructure before initiating design, focusing on subtle alterations and material preservation rather than extensive re-fits, an approach rooted in thoughtful reuse.
Institutional Change: Funding and Flexibility in Architectural Reuse
Implementing this reuse-focused methodology requires shifting the architectural commission process. Hanke cites the need for early funding and flexibility within design programs to accommodate such changes—a practice exemplified by organizations like Yes Make, which manage material procurement and storage. “Financial and material resources must move early,” he emphasizes, advocating for thoughtful dismantling over improvisation to turn materials into future resources in creative architecture.
Project info:
Studio: THISS Studio | @thiss.studio
Location: London, United Kingdom
Inspired by the ways exhibition design can transform materials, explore how Prague’s Wardrobe House uses strategic redesign for material optimization.
This article forms part of designboom’s POSTHUMAN UTOPIAS exploration, in partnership with INDX|GLOBAL, highlighting global architecture and design dialogues. Discover more in-depth thematic explorations in our editorial series.
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Source: designboom.com
Frequently asked questions
How does THISS Studio use salvaged materials?
THISS Studio transforms salvaged materials into new designs in resourceful architecture, emphasizing sustainable use. They have used beams from abandoned Norwegian barns and transformed a pontoon boat into ceiling-mounted shelving.
What is the philosophy behind the Barn Again project?
Barn Again showcases THISS Studio’s philosophy of using salvaged materials, featuring beams from abandoned Norwegian barns to form a tapering pavilion. The project celebrates weathered surfaces and invites further reuse, embodying their adaptive design principles.
What changes are needed for reuse-focused architectural projects?
Implementing a reuse-focused methodology in architecture requires shifting the architectural commission process, with emphasis on early funding and flexibility within design programs. This approach ensures thoughtful dismantling and maximization of future material utility.
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