Wiebke Ahues
What convinced you to join the hej.build architectural advisory board?
For a transformation towards a climate-friendly construction industry, we need more circular processes and products in practice. I want companies to better understand how we, as architects, use and specify circular products. I see the hej.build architectural advisory board as an effective interface to ensure that in the future, there will be a greater variety of circular and reused products available.
What is currently on your mind regarding architecture, interior design, or even building products?
I am focused on the field of circular planning and construction. What particularly interests me is scaling circular building practices. How can we take circular construction from small, experimental projects to a larger scale?
In a few words, what defines good architecture/interior design for you?
For me, good architecture creates moving spatial moments out of necessity or constraints. Even from the current challenges related to increasing resource scarcity, good architecture can derive special value and beauty.
Is there a current highlight or an all-time favorite project you'd like to share with us?
The Morland project in Paris, which I had the opportunity to lead for David Chipperfield Architects, showcases exciting dimensions of building transformation, including greywater recycling. It was the first time I encountered the present complexity of dealing with reused building components, which were incorporated into the design by Encore Heureux at the time. I apply the learnings from that project to my current practice at LXSY, which has long set new standards for sustainable design, as seen in the Impact Hub Berlin at CRCLR-House in Berlin Neukölln.
Is there a question you wish you had been asked? If so, what would it be and how would you answer it?
How about: »How did you first encounter the topic of sustainable design and planning?«
The questions regarding the environmental impact of our construction practices were brought to me with great seriousness and vigor by young members of my design teams. I’m glad I paid attention to this dialogue, which now allows me to contribute to setting new standards in circular construction with LXSY, like at the forefront of the CRCLR-House project. Being an architect is a free profession, and for me, that also implies a responsibility towards society and the environment. Living up to that responsibility every day fulfills me.
