Blog: Designing for longevity: Creating a timeless base for your interior
In her latest blog, Interior Designer Emma Black shares her opinions on the importance of designing for longevity to reduce waste for improved sustainability.
When people approach an interior refurbishment, the majority of the time, the approach is to strip out and start again. This can create a lot of waste. For example, commercial offices tend to be refurbished every 5-10 years; this can be even more frequent if there are short leases and with the growth of landlords investing in CAT A+ fit-out, a lot of which may end up being replaced to suit the new tenant’s brand.
While sustainable materials play a large part in sustainable design, designing for longevity is key. Creating a neutral base palette using the more permanent parts of an interior, like flooring, tiles, joinery, etc., allows for maximum flexibility when personalising a space with smaller, less permanent items like furniture and styling pieces.
We discovered an original parquet floor on site at our project Parklane Plowden Leeds, we decided to restore and retain this rather than covering or replacing with a new floor finish.
Here are some of our key design principles for sustainable design
Considerate Design
Consider the use, study the client and understand how the space will be used. Gathering data, whether a day in the life study or a staff engagement survey, the more data and research showing how the space is used, who by, when and how they interact with the space will aid in achieving an efficient and well-utilised space.
At the end of the day, while the aesthetic value of space is important, it comes down to practicality and function; if it hasn’t been well considered and can’t be used efficiently, it won’t be used as much or enjoyed and is likely to be redesigned sooner due to this.
Our design at Sportsshoes.com considered many different working styles, ranging from desk to lounge based and from collaboration tables to individual focus booths there’s a space for everyone. This project also featured lots of existing finishes enhanced with simple treatments to make them part of the design.
Incorporate efficiencies
Designing for the future is key; with more and more options for sustainable living, our spaces need to be able to adapt to allow for this. There are already many technologies at the forefront of design that assist in a building’s efficiency. Designing energy-efficient lighting, heating, and cooling systems will reduce energy usage, saving resources and the client money on their energy bills.
If you are in an existing building, there are many ways to improve its efficiency and sustainability. Find out more on my colleague’s blog here: Retrofitting Buildings for a Greener Future
Durable, Sustainable, and Recyclable materials
When specifying materials, don’t just consider the recycled content in a product; consider end of life; how is the product fixed? Will it be damaged when removed? Will it damage the wall or floor when removed? While it is labelled as a recyclable product, is it still recyclable if it has residue left on it from the installation method?
These are some of the important questions we should ask about each product; you can find answers to some of these questions on a product’s Environmental Product Declaration. This is a document quantifies environmental information about the lifecycle of the product.
A growing number of suppliers are now running takeback schemes where they take their product back when it is no longer being used and can either give it a second life or recycle it. Of course, depending on the forecasted amount of time the product will be in place, different applications would be beneficial for longevity and extended durability, but the important part is that it is considered.
Quality and Cost-Effectiveness
Prepare to invest; if you don’t invest in good quality materials and products, it is likely they will need replacing after a few years rather than lasting 10 years. While the initial outlay may be more expensive, it is more cost-effective and sustainable than replacing it every few years.
If the budget is tight, we would advise investing in those longer-lasting base materials of a scheme, for example, a hardwood floor or stone/marble work surfaces, and quality M&E and saving money where you can on those interchangeable items like loose furniture and styling items.
Now, this isn’t to say an interior can’t be fun or bold. There are many ways to bring energy into a neutral space. Bring fun in using interesting forms of furniture and be bold with patterns and prints on artwork and fabrics throughout the space.
With sustainability in mind, it is best to be creative with items that aren’t fixed to the building’s fabric. Furniture, artwork and accessories can easily be passed on to another to be reused and have a second life or recycled if you feel the interior needs a bit of a design change.
Conclusion
As interior designers, our job is to educate ourselves. Be aware of new technologies, techniques, and products while avoiding greenwashing. Remember, less is more. We are all learning on this journey to a better, more sustainable world. Share your experience and knowledge with other designers.