“There is this very vulnerable planet of ours with finite resources. Architects and designers have, I think, a fair responsibility for conserving energy and materials and making things durable” -Robin Day
Robin Day, an industrial designer, best known for his iconic polypropylene stacking chair, was an early pioneer in sustainability. His four-fold design principle: functionality of use, elegance in form, sustainability and responsibility of material usage and economy of sale price, sums up what should become a mantra for every designer. (ICON, 2016)
1. Robin Day Polo Chair In A Restaurant
2. Robin Day Club Chair In Situ In A Reception Area
With the increasing awareness of the depleting natural resources, the effects of human actions on ecological balance, the growing population, and poverty and social discrimination remaining high, individuals and corporates are becoming conscious of making right this wrong. Sustainability is an emerging value that is being adopted to not only save our planet but also learn to live on it consciously and thrive.
3. Sustainability and Sustainable Development – Bruntland Commission successfully unified environmentalism with social and economic concerns on the world’s development agenda
A conscious interior designer should strive to create an ecologically and socially responsible interior that combines safety and economic benefits of the individuals using the space. Environmentally responsible design is a combination of green and sustainable design where green design is a micro-perspective where people’s health and well-being form the basis of design decisions and sustainable design is a macro-perspective where world’s ecosystem, environment, concern for depleting resources, reuse, recycle, waste reduction for the basis. (Louise Jones, Preface)
Humans and businesses are using up natural resources rapidly. In the construction industry, buildings are responsible for 20% of global materials use. The consumption of raw materials in this industry is more than any other. One of the main materials in construction and interiors is timber which accounts for a quarter of the world’s wood harvest. In some countries, 80% of these are sourced illegally. Along with the strain on natural resources, buildings are responsible for 30% of global greenhouse gas emission, 40% of global energy use, 20% of UK’s waste and use one-sixth of the world’s clean water. (Moxon, Ch 1, p 14, 15)
4. Sustainable Interior – Joel Bernstein and Rebecca Gaon of Cavendish Studios designed the Mayfair Pop Up for Maiyet, an extremely ethical and sustainable fashion brand in New York. Clay plaster made from naturally abundant natural clays; aggregates is used. There are no additives of synthetics, lime, gypsum or cement and they are coloured with naturally occurring mineral pigments.
Interior designers, as a part of this industry, can help by creating interiors with functionality, accessibility, aesthetics and still be sustainable. Gone are the days when sustainable designs had the reputation of being poor quality, aesthetically inferior or reuse of old material in an ad-hoc manner. Creating an awareness in the clients and in the industry of the ever-increasing range of design led materials and products will change perceptions and help to create a modern and stylish look.
5. Images show use of sustainable materials like bamboo, ratta, reclaimed wood, recycled fabrics etc.
It is almost impossible to create a scheme that is entirely sustainable, but an effort can be made to make it more eco-friendly. Repurposing before buying new, researching the suppliers’ practices, locally sourced materials, consideration of the waste created, use of energy, water are some aspects that help towards a sustainable design scheme.
With the growing awareness from social media and messages from stalwarts like Sir David Attenborough (Climate Change: The Facts), the UK Parliament has declared an ‘environment and climate emergency’ and has pledged to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050. We, as conscious interior designers, must a play role in helping towards realising this important pledge by informed choice of use of materials that help to conserve energy, reduce waste and pollution, provide a toxic free and safe interior and educating the clients. All of this while providing an aesthetically pleasing and a functional space. History has shown it is possible.
6. “We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
– Native American axiom
Works Cited
• Moxon Siân. “Chapter 1.” Sustainability in Interior Design, Laurence King Publishing, London, 2012, pp. 14–15.
• “Robin Day’s Designs at Loft.” ICON Magazine, 20 Sept. 2018, https://www.iconeye.com/design/news/robin-day-s-designs-at-loft.
• Jones, Louise. Environmentally Responsible Design: Green and Sustainable Design for Interior Designers, Wiley, Hoboken, NJ, 2008.
Image Credits
1 & 2. “Robin Day’s Designs at Loft.” ICON Magazine, 20 Sept. 2018, https://www.iconeye.com/design/news/robin-day-s-designs-at-loft.
3. Porras, Jari. Developing a Model for Evaluation of Sustainability Perspectives and Effects in ICT Projects. www.researchgate.net/profile/Jari-Porras/publication/320756685_Developing_a_model_for_evaluation_of_sustainability_perspectives_and_effects_in_ICT_projects/links/59f998a5a6fdcc075ec9bb25/Developing-a-model-for-evaluation-of-sustainability-perspectives-and-effects-in-ICT-projects.pdf.
4. Maiyet Case Study. “From Earth to Sustainable Luxury.” Clayworks, 8 June 2017, clay-works.com/earth-sustainable-luxury/.
5. “10 Sustainable Interior Design Materials for an Eco-Friendly Home.” Hadley Court – Interior Design Blog, 31 July 2020, https://hadleycourt.com/10-sustainable-interior-design-materials-for-an-eco-friendly-home/.
6. “Why Do Children Need Outdoor Play?” OwnPlayground, 17 Sept. 2020, https://ownplayground.com/why-do-children-need-outdoor-play/.