THISS Studio on Radical Reuse and Planned Dismantling
London-based THISS Studio discusses radical reuse in architecture, using salvaged barn beams and reclaimed boats to shape sustainable building designs.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- THISS Studio champions radical architectural reuse by letting available salvaged materials shape their designs.
- The design process shifts from paper-first planning to adapting layouts as materials are gathered.
- Notable projects include Barn Again, Kiko Kostadinov's London flagship, and the Pergola outdoor theater in Cairo.
- The studio emphasizes that dismantling must be intentionally designed to ensure materials remain useful.
As the architecture sector seeks sustainable alternatives, London-based THISS Studio, founded by Tamsin Hanke and Sash Scott, is redefining design through radical reuse. By utilizing reclaimed components ranging from old barn beams to upturned pontoon boats, the practice allows available resources to dictate the architectural form.
Hanke explains that material reuse fundamentally alters the design sequence. Projects can no longer be entirely finalized on paper before sourcing begins. Instead, the studio outlines its intent, collects available stock, and continuously adjusts the design during construction in collaboration with craftspeople and suppliers, transforming the process into a dialogue rather than a monologue.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
This willingness to let existing objects guide a project is evident in Barn Again, created with architect Tom Svilans for the 2025 Copenhagen Architecture Biennial using weathered beams from disused Norwegian barns. Similarly, at Kiko Kostadinov’s London flagship, an inverted pontoon boat installation by artist Ryan Trecartin serves as an unconventional ceiling support system for shelving.
"The work becomes a conversation rather than a monologue."
Tamsin Hanke
The studio's resource-conscious approach extends globally, including the Pergola public theater in Cairo built with local recycled materials, and PoliNations, a monumental temporary tree structure first presented in Birmingham in 2022 that returned at Glastonbury’s Shangri-La in 2025.
Embracing circular architecture requires a significant cultural shift for both clients and institutions, as traditional construction relies heavily on rigid timelines and predetermined specifications. THISS Studio's methodology highlights how architectural creativity can thrive within the strict constraints of material availability and conservation.
Exhibition design brings these philosophies into sharp focus. Working with the Design Museum, the studio operated more like archaeologists or archivists—cataloguing existing infrastructure and auditing proposed additions to minimize waste and touch as little as possible.
Ultimately, making this approach standard practice requires clients and funding bodies to adapt their funding schedules, allowing architects the necessary time to source and secure reclaimed stock before construction deadlines take over.
Source: designboom
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