Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Young
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Sure, my path has been pretty circuitous…but I’ll try to be as concise as possible. I was born on the island of Newfoundland, an island off the northeast coast of Canada. The island’s ruggedness and unique culture made an impact on me from an early age. My love of the ocean, the wilderness, and nature all started there. Following degrees in French (BA) and then Fine Arts (BFA – jewelry and photography), I flew to Japan with the intention of studying the language, traveling, and learning as much as possible about the Japanese world of craft and design. I thought my stay would be a year or two max but the longer I stayed the more I wanted to explore the culture and country. I lived in Hamamatsu City for 4 years and took many trips, both within the country as well as around Indonesia. Those years forever changed the way I appreciate craft + ritual with a focus on handmade, age-old techniques. When I returned from Japan I followed an earlier desire to study architecture. In the year leading up to starting this degree I rented an art study and spent hours developing film in a friend’s darkroom. I prepared for a solo show in a local gallery and displayed hand-bound books made from Japanese paper, filled with images and words from my life in Japan and journey home. The study of architecture took me to Taliesin West for a workshop in ecological design, and then on to Texas where I focused on sustainability and began to form a strong connection to the desert, life in the south and its people (I met my husband during a student internship at Lake|Flato Architects). After graduating I returned to Texas and spent 14 formative years working with Lake|Flato Architects. I moved on to work in hospitality for a couple of years and after a long road trip during the pandemic I decided to start my own architecture practice and multidisciplinary design studio.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There were definitely challenges along the way…that felt like mountains. I have always had a lot of interests. Sometimes this can be a blessing but it can also make forging a life path a little more challenging. I always had more than one job in an attempt, I see in retrospect, to fulfill different parts of me (as well as support all of my career/study pivots!). I’ve often thought that this diversity was a weakness but I don’t see it that way anymore.
I would say moving to Japan without much preparation was one of the toughest things I have done. At one point early on I wasn’t sure if I would stay but I told myself to give it 6 months to adjust and get settled. My living conditions were terrible in the beginning but as time went on things improved a lot and I made more connections, learned the language, and was finally able to save enough to travel and learn more about the culture and people.
Architecture school was also super challenging for me, for a few different reasons. I persevered at times when I really felt the universe was telling me to stop and I am very glad I did. I believe that all the challenges I have faced have definitely made me stronger and helped me learn things about myself and the world.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about wren atelier?
wren atelier is a multifaceted design studio. I am an architect, interior designer, jewelry designer, and small shop owner. It feels great to finally be able to honor all the diverse parts of me under one little roof.
My architectural approach is informed by a life of travel along with a deep love and respect for the environment.
wren atelier [wa] strives to design buildings that sit lightly on the land, that connect intimately with their surroundings, and that holistically, beautifully provide shelter and comfort for their inhabitants. My process is collaborative and detail oriented. It is extremely important for me to design sensitively around a site’s natural resources, to choose sustainable + durable materials, and for every design to have energy efficiency in mind. I love to create spaces where nature flows in, light is playful, and there are moments where the eye and spirit can rest. I prefer to work on residential projects (both ground-up and remodel) but also have experience in hospitality and small scale commercial. I really enjoy providing interior design on projects that require help in this area. The best way to connect is through my website where you can see examples of my work and learn more about my process.
wren atelier is a metalsmith of simple and elegant designs using reclaimed metal, wood, stones and leather. I have a small selection of pieces that I’ve been making for a while and a growing collection of new designs using reclaimed materials and beadwork. The wood I use comes from a folklore center in northeastern Canada that heals instruments. I love that I can breath new life into a material that once made music! Lastly, I love to do design commissions celebrating different rites of passage and important events in peoples lives.
The third tier of my business focusses on my little shop and occasional small workshops where people come together to learn, share, make new connections, and even possibly, forge new directions in their lives. Past workshops include mezcal tasting, natural wine, tarot card reading, wreath making, indigo dyeing, sound bath sessions and more. wren tienda is an intimate, curated shop within my studio selling handcrafted items from local artists and artisans from around the world. Pottery, textiles, jewelry, woodwork and clothing are carefully chosen and presented. Living in Japan for 4 years forever changed the way I appreciate craft + ritual as I actively seek objects crafted with integrity, simplicity, and age-old techniques. The shop is open on second Saturdays or by appointment through my website. This important part of my business is all about finding ways to connect with and support community. To learn about future workshops, you can follow me on Instagram or sign up for my newsletter through my website.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Definitely! We literally hit the road about 6 months into the Covid pandemic. We were both very stressed out from working super long hours and our son was home struggling with the online school ‘solution’. The best decision we made was to pack up and hit the road. We sold our home and bought an airstream and spent the next 9 months on the road. My husband took a sabbatical, my son took a gap year with a bi-weekly online tutor, and I spent the time researching our trip and reimagining what I wanted life and work to look like once we put down roots again. This time together not only gave us time to explore new places, it helped us really prioritize what was important – our family and experiencing life! We learned to live together in a little silver tube on wheels. We had a shortlist of places we wanted to see and otherwise moved pretty organically, staying put for longer when we needed/wanted to, moving on when we felt the pull. Covid made me realize how fragile life can be and the importance of looking after ourselves, both physically and mentally.
Pricing:
- jewelry $65-$350 depending on materials and complexity
- wren tienda items $ varies a lot – ceramics, textiles, wooden items from japan, etc.
- architectural design depends greatly on the scope
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wrenatelier.com
- Instagram: wren_atelier
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-young-698b408
