INSIGHTS 11
PRACTICE PROFILE Sharlene Young
Symbiotic Living Architecture + Design
ADF’s Kim Neville speaks to US architect Sharlene Young, who founded her interior architecture and design practice in Chicago with a focus on biophilic design in projects in the city, and who has recently opened a studio in London.
S
harlene Young’s architectural journey began at New York’s Cornell University. At the prestigious School of Architecture, Art, and Planning, she discovered her passion for creating spaces that resonate deeply with those who use them. Early in her career, she excelled in large-scale workplace projects. Transitioning to residential design, Young says she cultivated a deeper understanding of “personalisation and the transformative role of human-centred spaces.” As interior practice lead at Wheeler Kearns Architects, Young sharpened her expertise, contributing to projects recognised in awards by the American Institute of Architects. This experience set the stage for the designer to found Symbiotic Living Architecture + Design in Chicago in 2016, grounded in biophilic and wellness design principles. Recently, Symbiotic Living announced its expansion into the UK, displaying the fi rm’s ambition. Now, splitting her time between the US and the UK, Young continues to oversee the practice’s operations, bringing its wellness-focused design philosophy to an international audience. Young says the practice aims to “transcend functional design to create spaces that promote health, harmony, and connection to the natural world,” adding that this initially “intuitive” approach on her part continues to drive the fi rm’s strategy. Over time however, her team integrated evidence-based biophilic design principles from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), adding a robust framework to design for wellbeing. Despite challenges from the pandemic, Symbiotic Living adapted by embracing local talent, materials, and artisans to help support communities as well as reduce projects’ carbon footprint. These values, coupled with a scalable and fl exible business model, have allowed the fi rm to work across projects of varying sizes and complexities. Opening a UK offi ce represents a signifi cant milestone for the
fi rm, which Young sees as a means to serve “increasing demand for wellbeing-focused, biophilic spaces in the UK.” While awaiting
ADF JANUARY 2025 Studio V workplace conversion, Chicago © Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing
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