Hosted! The ReFrame Residency: A Bold Reinterpretation of Scottish Heritage
Jahnavi Jayashankar, a recent graduate from Oxford Brookes University’s Master of Architecture in Applied Design (MArchD) program, has earned a formidable reputation for her dedication to regenerative and contextually driven design. Her final-year project, “Hosted! The ReFrame Residency,” proposes a striking reinterpretation of a neglected farm building in remote Scotland. By integrating contemporary technologies with traditional building techniques, Jahnavi demonstrates how architecture can fulfill both functional and cultural requirements while extending the narrative of the existing setting.
A Celebration of Sustainable Thinking
Few projects embody the idea of environmentally conscious design as thoroughly as “Hosted! The ReFrame Residency.” Jahnavi’s work transcends simple sustainability checklists and instead champions the notion of regenerative building strategies. Informed by the principles of the Regenerative Design studio at Oxford Brookes, she carefully scrutinized how seasonal changes, local resources, and community engagement might converge in a single architectural scheme. This approach reveals her conviction that existing structures should not merely be conserved, but actively revitalized and enhanced.
Jahnavi’s unwavering focus on extending the lifespan of existing architecture is evident throughout her final-year research. The disused farm building, once vital to Scotland’s pastoral economy, had fallen into disrepair. Through conscientious analysis, she realized that rehabilitating the site using its own abundant resources could generate a contemporary multi-purpose venue, rather than pressing for demolition and replacement. By aligning her project with site-specific research on materials and environmental conditions, she encourages architectural innovation that celebrates a building’s inherent memory.
Honoring Context and Local Identity
The transformative power of the project lies in Jahnavi’s belief that successful architecture must resonate deeply with its surroundings. Instead of imposing a foreign aesthetic, her design language evolves painstakingly from the character of the original farmstead. By drawing on the region’s agricultural heritage, “Hosted!” offers a powerful reminder that the physical contexts of older structures can inform and even inspire new programmatic strategies.
Although carefully attuned to the farm building’s history, her vision looks confidently to the future. Virtual modeling, CNC milling, and other digital fabrication tools intertwine seamlessly with handmade joinery and on-site craftsmanship. Natural materials from nearby woodlands, including timber and thatch, honor the building’s rural beginnings while offering the project a distinctive sense of place. By fusing tradition with technology, Jahnavi shows that sustainable design can be progressive, resourceful, and deeply tied to its cultural roots.
Innovative Program and Adaptation
A key highlight of “Hosted! The ReFrame Residency” is the imaginative reprogramming of its spaces. Instead of simply retrofitting an old structure for residential or commercial use, Jahnavi envisions a rotating residency program that convenes diverse groups of professionals—artists, researchers, and designers—within the renewed farmhouse. This approach views the adaptive reuse of architecture not as an endpoint but as a means to foster broader cultural and intellectual discourse.
At the close of each residency term, “Hosted!” culminates in a public exhibition that invites local communities, policymakers, and other stakeholders to share in the ongoing evolution of the space. The conversation that arises from these gatherings breaks down barriers between design professionals and the public, illuminating how architecture can serve to unify rather than isolate. These events are followed by “live demonstration” workshops, in which participants learn about traditional building techniques, forward-thinking digital fabrication, and the value of regenerative materials. By letting visitors witness both the finished product and the process behind it, Jahnavi aspires to spark a regional movement of grassroots design appreciation.
Connecting Landscape, Materials, and Memory
Jahnavi’s prior experience in retrofit and reuse projects became the bedrock for this ambitious undertaking. Drawing upon years spent studying the benefits of merging digital fabrication and heritage crafts, she identified opportunities to transform the neglected farm without erasing its original character. From reclaimed timbers to dried grasses gathered from the site’s surroundings, each component in her design exemplifies an ethos of environmental responsibility.
Yet, the project’s most remarkable feature may be its capacity to connect intangible memory with tangible form. Through sensitive spatial planning, minor fractures in the building’s walls become focal points, highlighting the passage of time. Existing corridors and barn spaces retain a trace of their agricultural past while facilitating new modes of interaction—performance, art installation, or communal dining. In this way, “Hosted!” reclaims the past, acknowledges its role, and invites local communities to rediscover a long-forgotten cultural anchor.
Recognition and Opportunities
Jahnavi’s holistic dedication to sustainability and adaptive reuse has earned widespread respect. In 2024, she was honored with the MAKE Architects Prize, a testament to her skill in fusing regenerative theory with inspiring design proposals. With her MArchD now completed, she plans to continue exploring opportunities as a Part 2 Architectural Assistant—ideally in practices that share her enthusiasm for social, cultural, and environmental responsibility.
The “Hosted! The ReFrame Residency” project stands as a shining model for the broader architectural community, illustrating how rethinking existing structures can yield outcomes that feel both timeless and innovative. Whether it’s integrating cutting-edge fabrication techniques to preserve local identity or transforming an outdated facility into a community-driven space, Jahnavi’s work emphasizes our collective capacity for architectural transformation.
Fostering Collaboration and Community
One of the more notable accomplishments of “Hosted!” is its focus on collaboration as a tool to revolutionize architectural discourse. By turning a traditional setting into a seasonal hub for specialists from a variety of fields, Jahnavi consciously blurs the lines between practice, research, and engagement. The on-site workshops, open discussions, and public exhibitions unify students, residents, and professionals in pursuit of responsive design solutions that balance global insight with local needs.
This “community-first” methodology resonates with architects facing the contemporary challenge of climate change, where sustainable design often requires strong grassroots participation to succeed. Jahnavi’s proposal, anchored in the principle of inclusivity, serves as an inspiration for future projects that seek to restore, reuse, and revitalize rather than dismantle and rebuild.
Where to Find Out More
For those interested in diving deeper into Jahnavi Jayashankar’s innovative reuse strategies or discussing possible collaborations, you can connect with her directly on LinkedIn or reach out via email at jahnavij1@gmail.com. She welcomes inquiries about the project and broader conversations on the power of regenerative architecture to reshape community life.
As “Hosted! The ReFrame Residency” vividly demonstrates, existing buildings offer far more than a mere glimpse into architectural heritage. With imaginative thinking and a commitment to thoughtful programming, they can become catalysts for revitalization—breathing fresh life into neglected structures and challenging us to reimagine our relationship with the built environment.
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