Last week, during the seminar, we touched on the fashion industry and the ways in which it could become more sustainable. For example, my group partners and I were looking at different ways of creating artificial leather. We stumbled upon this brand based in NYC, that does apple leather bags and purses. Apple leather is produced at lower costs and with less resources than natural leather, thus, in such ways, the industry could be less wasteful. Going back to a reading we had to do for last week, the Pink Flamingo, symbol of the environmental activism wave of the 1960’s, is a great representation oh how the artificial, in this case plastic, can stand as a symbol for the natural, for the environment. This plastic flamingo was perceived as an ironic statement, a comment on how the line between the real and the ”fake” is starting to get finer and finer. Therefore, I think we are slowly going to realise that sometimes, especially in the fashion industry, the alternative, such as faux fur for example, is better than the original. Another example of the alternative being more feasible than the original is using an array of environmentally friendly materials in interior design. For instance, bamboo, reclaimed wood from previous projects, cork, recycled glass, engineered stones, such as quartz, recycled metal or hemp fabric, have a visually pleasing look, whilst also being less detrimental compared to their traditional versions. The same way in which young people have discovered a new found love for thrifting and charity shops, I believe the same phenomenon will take over the world of interior design, where there will be a higher demand in terms of reusing materials and elements (furniture, fabrics etc).

fig1 : apple leather- source: https://allegoriedesign.com

fig2: Pink Flamingo Symbol- source: newenglandhistoricalsociety.com

Sources: Jones, Louise. (2008) Environmentally responsible interior design : green and sustainable design for interior designers  / Louise Jones. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.

Tucker, L. M. (2014) Designing sustainable residential and commercial interiors : applying concepts and practices / Lisa M. Tucker. New York, NY, USA: Fairchild Books.

Anon (2006) Pink Inc. pops up to reprieve plastic icon: the pink flamingo. 18 (39), 3-.

Hi everyone! I am Daria, I am 20 years old and I study interior design. I believe this course is for utmost importance and relevance to my course, as eco friendly and sustainable design are topics very prevalent of the modern day. I believe that especially in the future, let’s say 10 years from now, interior design and architecture will be constantly intertwined with the idea of environmentalism. Whether we re talking about ethically sourced materials and ways of creating self-sustaining spaces through the use of solar panels or smart irrigation systems, there is a lot of room for discovering the best ways of designing and building in a non-detrimental way for the environment. For example, I find the Gardens of the Bay project in Singapore to be a prime example of how well advanced technology and ecology can connect. My project last year was heavily influenced by this concept, as I had a ”Supertree” prototype as an elevator going all the way up through the building. This cylindrical elevator showcases a tree structure that surrounds it. This structure is covered in plants and an irrigation system that is connected to the main water source of the building. However visually pleasing, this structure is meant to bring the outdoors indoors in a multipurpose manner (see fig 2). I believe this is what design should encapsulate nowadays: a harmonious dance between the artificial and the natural. I will strive to create similar projects in the future, that not only are visually pleasing, but also serve a greater purpose. On this blog, I will reflect on different topics discussed during the lectures and seminars and I will place them in relation to interior design and architecture, which are the topics I am most interested in.

fig1- Year 2, sem 1 project, Paterson’s Land- photo taken by me

fig2-  Singapore Supertrees- www.nationalgeographic.com