AJ Climate Champions

Je Ahn on setting up Studio Weave and working with found materials

Nov 8, 2023

Je Ahn, founding director of Studio Weave, talks about the challenges of sourcing timber from London's streets and parks, including the need to prove its chain of custody without FSC certification. The use of found materials allows for improvisation and new aesthetic opportunities, as seen in the Lea Bridge Library Pavilion. Ahn emphasizes the importance of project-specific sustainability and achieving the right balance of materials. They also discuss the role of an architect in effecting change and their personal journey in the field.

42:25

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Je Ahn

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Quick takeaways

Working with found materials requires a willingness to improvise and creates new aesthetic opportunities.

Sustainability in architecture is project-specific and involves achieving the right balance for each project.

Deep dives

Waltham Forest Library Project: Navigating Constraints and Creating a Delightful Space

The Waltham Forest Library project came about through a competition and was a finalist in the GLA framework. The project aimed to address community concerns and constraints while providing a delightful user experience. Existing trees on the site were preserved, and the building design incorporated a semi-circular cut to protect a lime tree. The project also encountered unexpected challenges, such as discovering a World War II bunker, which led to innovative design solutions. The library has become a vibrant community space, accommodating various activities, including MP surgeries, therapies, and reading sessions, attracting a significantly higher number of visitors.

Introduction

2min

Designing a Library for Community Engagement

11min

Working with Timber and Sustainable Materials

19min

The Agency of an Architect and a Personal Journey

3min

Journey of Studying, Working, and Setting up Studio Weave

4min

Current Projects and Future Goals

3min

Episode 44. AJ Climate Champions with Hattie Hartman and George Morgan. Studio Weave founding director Je Ahn explains the challenges of sourcing timber from London’s streets and parks.

He describes how he translated the ambition of using local timber from London’s trees into reality at Lea Bridge Library Pavilion despite the fact that no sales channel existed for sourcing local timber and the need to prove its chain of custody because it had no FSC certification.

We also discuss how working with found materials requires a willingness and ability to improvise as a designer and creates new aesthetic opportunities. In the case of Lea Bridge Library Pavilion, this approach lends warmth and informality to the space. ‘You have to be ready to change your mind to suit the requirement,’ says Ahn.

Ahn describes sustainability as project-specific. ‘I’m very interested in where we get our materials,’ he says, explaining that timber is not always the best solution. It’s all about achieving the right balance for a given project. ‘Whatever I put out in the world has to have a purpose beyond what was initially set out,’ says Ahn.

For show notes and to catch up on all AJ Climate Champions episodes, click here.

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AJ Climate Champions

Je Ahn on setting up Studio Weave and working with found materials

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Waltham Forest Library Project: Navigating Constraints and Creating a Delightful Space

Timber Sourcing and Reuse: A Commitment to Sustainability

Creating a Welcoming and Adaptable Space at the Library

Thermal Comfort and Energy Efficiency Considerations

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts