CREATING CIRCULAR INTERIORS

26.09.2024

🌿 My Approach and Process 🌿

Let's start with my definition.

𝘌𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘧𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦-𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦. 🌍

I-AM.D.C

According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Building Prosperity Report, the built environment sector generates 35% of the EU's total waste.

Over the years, I’ve designed many spaces that were 'fixed' in time. When the operation needed to change, large portions of the design had to be ripped out, only to be replaced under similar conditions. This wasteful cycle got me thinking: How can I make my interior designs more sustainable and adaptable?

Here are 3 strategies that I use:

1️⃣ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁

It might sound simplistic, but using fewer materials, fixtures, and fittings inherently reduces waste. One practical approach I like is to use more artwork - digital prints, canvas, photography, tapestries, etc. These low-impact elements lessen the need for extensive construction while adding texture, colour, and personality. The best part? Art can be reused and repurposed, making it a valuable, long-lasting asset. 🖼

2️⃣ 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘆

I prefer to specify an item of furniture instead of designing complex fixed joinery. Take banquette seating, for instance, which is often fixed to walls and floors. But if we rethink this, we might find that loose furniture or prefab designs can offer the same utility and aesthetic with greater flexibility. 🛋️

3️⃣ 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 & 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲

“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘶𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘱; 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘶𝘺 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦.”

Fast furniture might be convenient, but it’s designed for a linear economy, contributing to our waste problem. Instead, I specify high-quality furniture that ensures longevity and future utility. I love repurposing vintage pieces, too. Restoring them adds character and personality to the space. 🪑

Thanks for reading!