As the word sustainability suggests, interior design sustainability is about fulfilling the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own. Sustainable designs could be explained through terms like ‘environmentally conscious, eco-designs’. Sustainable interior designs are the ones which reduce negative impacts on the environment, while increasing the health and comfort of its occupants.
Sustainability and green building
In interior design projects, it is important for any interior designer to determine an efficient and effective use of space, selecting construction materials that offer low environmental impact, waste and energy consumption and this is where sustainability plays a huge role. A new project offers the designer with new opportunities to build eco-friendly designs from scratch, including recyclable materials and energy saving designs. Such designs can be used to make a project, a building or a home more comfortable. For instance, by a cooling-ventilation design, there can be increased indoor air quality. Interior designers taking into account the amount of natural light available to internal spaces in the home can reduce the requirement for electrical lighting. Also, this type of research is crucial for the design of a green building.
Need of the hour: For sustainability, Interior designers need recyclable furniture and upholstery choices
Sustain furniture and upholstery choices for interior designers
Choosing sustainable, renewable and recyclable materials is a major part of the whole sustainable interior design process.
Cork or Bamboo furniture: The most recyclable and sustainable wood furniture is made out of cork or bamboo. Both of these materials are regenerative, recyclable and fast growing.
Virgin hardwoods are not advised for sustainability purposes, as they take hundreds of years to mature.
Plywood and particle wood are also not advised, as they lack durability and include toxic adhesives.
Using stone flooring instead of Hardwood can be a step towards a more sustainable interior as is done in India and by some Indian firms like Hanumant designs and Developers.
Natural latex made cushioning is best and soy foam cushioning should be avoided as soy farming causes deforestation.
Implementing Biophilic design principles for sustainable interior spaces
Biophilic interior designs
A biophilic design is seen something that usually done in the architecture in more of an external basis. But there is more to the Biophilic designs and they can be a huge part of the interiors. For instance, Plant-based installations are now widely appreciated in the interiors. Using natural handmade colours to make Biophilic interior designs is one of the specialities of a lot of firms. Making such designs regularly accessible to in the workspace or homes, is a major aspect of biophilic designing. Also, creating a large scale biophilic setting using small elements is better than a lot of scattered small elements.
True sustainability is a product of using better materials and reducing waste. So above were mentioned some biodegradable choices for interior designers and further is the recycling and reducing waste perspective of Interior designing.
Reducing waste and promoting circular design in interior design practices
It is not unknown that our planet faces a growing waste problem. Architects and interior designers can contribute to solving this problem by accepting the concept of zero or minimizing waste in their designs. They can widely opt for Circular designs as done at some firms like Hanumant Design & Developers.
A Circular design can be achieved through right material selection, designs made with disassembly in mind and creation of an adaptable setting.
- Reuse and Recycling: Using reusable materials such as aluminium, steel, or certain types of plastics and encouraging recycling is a vital strategy.
- Energy efficiency: Models of natural ventilation can reduce the need for mechanical systems. Using energy efficient systems can also reduce waste.
In the end, we need to make choices and decisions in the benefit of our planet and the upcoming generations.