Florentine Wheelwright-Hirth

Florentine is a dedicated German Interior Design and Environmental Architecture student with a strong passion for adaptive reuse of existing buildings. Her multidisciplinary skill set includes hand sketching, technical drawing, and 3D modelling. She thrives on discovering innovative materials and construction techniques that improve sustainability and reduce environmental impact. Throughout her academic journey, Florentine has participated in several design projects centred on repurposing architecture, always placing the human experience at the heart of her designs. Her interests lie at the intersection of sustainability, user-centric design, and material innovation. She is especially intrigued by how new materials can transform spaces and deepen the connection between users and the built environment, shaping more responsible and thoughtful architectural practices for the future.

Grounded Community - YMCA Sectional Perspective – The FMP, Grounded Community, envisions the Grade II listed, 1941 SEGAS building, being transformed into a sustainable and innovative YMCA Community hub that support young people and the wider community. Facilities include social and fitness areas, a late-night library, counselling services, and transitional housing. Opening the fourth floor into a roof top community garden, and a workshop space that repurposes used coffee grounds and sustainable plastics to create decorative bricks enhances the user experience and sustainability of the building. The existing structure of the building is being reconstructed with wooden elements to replace the damaged concrete floors and columns. Every element promotes creativity, environmental awareness, and flexibility, offering a supportive space where young adults can grow, connect, and thrive in meaningful and lasting ways.

Ground floor plan – The ground floor plan showcases the different elements of the main floor of the building, including a gym, a library space that gets transformed into an intimate jazz music space in the evening and a workshop space for sustainable bricks made out of organic plastic and used coffee grounds. The layout of the walls is based on the existing fabric of the building.

Constructing sustainable coffee bricks – The process of making sustainable coffee bricks out of organic plastic and used coffee grounds. Using the coffee ground from the area to bring the community together and have an impact on the planet.

Making moments and reuse – This design fosters connection, creativity, and memory. Reused materials—like furniture from crates and bricks from a nearby school—highlight sustainability. Flexible spaces adapt to work or social needs, while thoughtful details surprise and engage. Behind a historic façade, the building invites users to return, share experiences, and create new moments. By opening up the back facade and rebuilding it with glass bricks, the buildings atmosphere is being elevated. (Y2 Sem2)

Interior perspective – Interior view of the cafe space. By using second-hand and vintage furniture the space has a living room away from home atmosphere, where users can dwell and connect. Including the brands' bottle crates as furniture elevates the brand experience. Photoshopped model.