Juhee Lee-Hartford Featured in The Comm Sheet
River Architects is pleased to share a recent interview with our founder and managing principal, Juhee Lee-Hartford, published by The Commsheet.
In the Q&A, Juhee reflects on her journey from South Korea to New York, the cultural influences that shaped her perspective as an architect, and the experiences that led her to establish River Architects more than two decades ago. The conversation explores themes that have long informed both her work and our practice: the importance of place, the power of storytelling, and the ways architecture can connect people to history, culture, and community.
From her early childhood in South Korea and later building a life and career in the United States, Juhee developed a unique perspective on the built environment. Her appreciation for the relationship between architecture, landscape, and daily life continues to influence River's approach to design, whether we are working on a historic restoration, a civic building, or a high-performance home.
The interview also touches on Juhee's work as a writer and her interest in preserving and sharing stories. For those who know her, this connection between architecture and storytelling is no surprise. Both disciplines require careful observation, empathy, and an understanding of how people experience the world around them.
At River Architects, we believe that great design begins with listening - to clients, to communities, to the history of a place, and to the landscape itself. These values have guided our work from the beginning and continue to shape the projects we undertake today.
We are grateful to The Commsheet for the opportunity to share Juhee's story and perspective.