Sustainable Urban Systems

SUSTAINABLE URBAN SYSTEMS TRANSFORMING URBAN COMMUNITIES INTO SUSTAINABLE LIVING SYSTEMS THROUGH INTERIOR DESIGN Esa u R ami rez

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CERTIFICATION This is to certify the written portion of the thesis prepared

by Esau Ramirez, titled: “Sustainable Urban Systems: Transforming Urban Communities into Sustainable Living Systems through Interior Design� has been approved by his committee and meets the requirements to complete the degree of Masters of Arts in Interior Design at Harrington College of Design. Completed April 17, 2015.

Louis Raia, Thesis Committee Chair

Diane Kitchell, Thesis Committee Reader

Jonathan Boyer, Thesis Committee Reader

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my mom and brother for the unconditional support, encouragement, and love they have constantly given me in every step of my life.

My sincere gratitute goes to Louis Raia for his continued guidance, support, and patience throughout my studies at Harrington and completion of my thesis.

Thank you to Diane Kitchell, Jonathan Boyer, and Jaime Sandoval for being an important part in the development and production of this thesis, your time, expertise, and motivation were an invaluable contribution.

I would also like to thank Daniela Ghertovici for challenging and making me discover the designer I had in me, and all the wonderful people at Harrington that shaped the professional I am today.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 7

biography

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thesis statement

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analysis

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synthesis

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design test

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conclusion

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apendix

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BIO I was born and raised in a small city on the coast of Peru, in a culture that had great love and respect for the environment.

My admiration for nature made me moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where I got a degree in Biology. After graduating, I went back to Peru and worked in real estate development.

Working along with architects and designers is where I discover my passion for interior design.

In 2012, I decided to move to Chicago to pursue a master’s degree in interior design at Harrington College of Design.

Living in a big city and coming from a more natured focused background I became interested in redeveloping urban communities through the use and respect for the existing built and natural environment.

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THESIS STATEMENT The built environment and nature are interrelated in complex ways that we are just beginning to understand. Our culture is becoming aware of the negative effects we cause in the environment and how these affect the well-being of both current and future generations. There is a growing movement opting for green alternatives and a series of guidelines have been created to regulate a sustainable development in the built environment.

This thesis examines sustainability in the urban context, analyzes current sustainable guidelines used in the built environment, and synthesizes the essence of these standards into a set of principles and drivers imperative to a sustainable interior design in an urban environment.

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ANALYSIS

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SOCIAL FRAMEWORK So what exactly is sustainability? According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, conditions that permit fulfilling the requirements of the society and economy of present and future generations.

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ECONOMY

SOCIETY

NATURE

SUSTAINABILITY

HISTORICAL FRAMEWORK The way humans interact with the natural environment has changed throughout time and so has the built environment.

Geared by ambitious ideals and aiming for progress the world began a fast transformation after the Industrial Revolution.

Machines replaced human labor, mass production led to affordability and a new era of consumerism. In the market economy of this era, natural resources seemed infinite, ecosystems seemed adaptable and immortal, leading to a society with few environmental concerns.

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Pollution after the Industrial

U.S. Environmental

Revolution

Protection Agency

1950

1980 “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson

Living Building

LEED Rating System

Challenge

2000 U.S. Green Building Council

2015 “Cradle to Cradle” by William McDonough

In 1962, Rachel Carson published “Silent Spring”, the study proved that the use of some chemicals in agriculture was causing detrimental effects on nature and humans. Carson’s work inspired an environmental movement that led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1970.

In 2002, William McDonough and Michael Braungart published “Cradle to Cradle”, a book that calls for a change in the industry through ecologically intelligent design where products are designed for continuous recovery and reutilization.

In 1993, the U.S. Green Building Council was created with the mission to promote sustainability in the building and construction industry. In 2000, USGBC launched the LEED rating system.

In 2006 the Living building challenge was launched. Its mission is to lead the transformation to a world that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative.

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SUSTAINABILITY TODAY Today we can see sustainability is embedding itself across social, political, and economic sectors. There is a growing culture that is opting for green alternatives for products and services that result in an eco-friendly lifestyle, healthier not only to humans but to the environment.

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2015 17

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE U.S. Although the future looks promising for sustainability there is still a long way until we find a balance with the way we interact with the environment. According to statistics, in 2014 the U.S. was the second largest producer of carbon dioxide emissions.1 Moreover, Americans make up an estimated 5% of the world’s population. However, the U.S. produces an estimated 30% of the world’s waste, and uses 25% of the world’s resources.2

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5% OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION

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30%

OF THE WORLD’S WASTE PRODUCTION

25%

OF THE WORLD’S RESOURCES

SECOND LARGEST PRODUCER OF CO2 WORLDWIDE

United States Department of Energy’s Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) for the United Nations

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The State of Consumption Today.” Worldwatch Institute. Accessed February 18, 2 014, http://www.worldwatch.org/node/810.rt-Fall 2014. City of Chicago Council.

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THE BUILDING INDUSTRY The Building Industry consumes nearly half of all the energy produced in the United States. Seventy-five percent (74.9%) of all the electricity produced in the U.S. is used just to operate buildings. Globally, these percentages are even greater.

With so much attention given to transportation emissions, many people are surprised to learn that buildings are responsible for nearly half (44.6%) of U.S. CO2 emissions in 2010.1 Looking at these numbers we see that the building sector plays an important role in air pollution and climate change. How can we fix this issue?

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28%

48%

24% BUILDINGS CONSUME MORE ENERGY THAN ANY OTHER SECTOR.

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34% 45% 21% BUILDINGS ARE THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTORS OF CO2

United States Energy Information Administration (2012)

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SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS & GUIDELINES Many certifications programs have been created to address sustainability issues and to make sure the products and design approaches used in the built environment are sustainable. The ones this thesis focused are: the Freiburg Charter, the LEED rating system, and the Living Building Challenge.

Further analysis of these different systems gives us a better understanding of their overarching principles.

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FREIBURG CHARTER The Freiburg Charter, is a guideline produced by the city of Freiburg, Germany, one of the most sustainable cities in the world. This document is a guide to planning and development of a sustainable city.

LEED provides proof that a project has achieved successful environmental goals and optimal design; it can also allow projects to take advantage of a series of state and local government incentives and grants.

LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE LBC is an advocacy tool, certification program, and a holistic approach that requires all project stakeholders to consider the real life cycle impact of design, construction, and operation.

Urban Density & Diversity

Location and Transportation

Place

Participatory Design

Water Efficiency

Water

Public Transportation

Energy and Atmosphere

Energy

Education

Materials and Resources

Health & Happiness

Industry & Job creation

Indoor Environmental Quality

Materials

Nature & Environment

Innovation

Equity

Long-term vision

Regional Priority

Beauty & Spirit

Fairness

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LEED RATING SYSTEM

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SYNTHESIS

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DESIGN PRINCIPLES After analyzing the commonalities and intricacies of each of the three sustainable standards mentioned before and reviewing my research, I developed a list of design principles essential for the successful design of a sustainable interior in an urban environment. These principles are: Place, People, Function, Space, Nature, Sourcing and Beauty.

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P CE Site selection and a strategic location are fundamental to achieve maximum efficiency in sustainability, taking into account urban density, climate, and access to public transportation. The design of a space should foster and protect local identity and welfare.

FUNCTION Functionality should be one of the priorities as it gives the practical meaning to a space. Efficiency involves the good use of density, usage, energy and water conservation. Spaces should be flexible to maximize its usage and promote a userinterior dynamic.

NATURE Interiors should foster nature connection. This could be achieved through the use of natural views, green walls of plants, gardens, operable windows, etc. The attitude of the interior designer should be optimistic about the environment.

BEAUTY Every designer should set beauty as a goal. A successful design should add human delight, appeal, and good design to all its different sustainable components.

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PEOPLE Interiors should be designed for a human scale experience.

Every design should foster human interaction and encourage the participation of the people who would inhabit or use that space. Diversity should be celebrated in regards to the accessibility, comfort, and delight of a space.

SPACE Interior environments should offer comfort to the user, as well as a feeling of safety. Spaces should promote and protect the health of users and the environment. Users should be allowed to interact with the space, regulate their experience, and have access to fresh air and daylight.

SOURCING A special consideration and analysis should be taken regarding the selection of materials and systems, taking into account fair labor practices, local and regional economy prosperity, waste reduction, and environment pollution.

DESIGN DRIVERS Using these principles as a base point, I developed a set of design drivers that have ultimately guided my design decisions. These design drivers are: Sense of Community, Eco-living, Smart Sourcing, and Nature Connection.

These drivers guide me to reach my goal of creating a space that will foster an interaction and respect for nature, promote a healthier eco-friendly lifestyle, and build a sense of community and human interaction, all while using sustainable materials and sources.

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Place

Sense of Community

People Function

Eco-Living

Space Nature

Smart Sourcing

Sourcing Beauty

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Nature Connection

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DESIGN TEST

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS The Design Test is located in Chicago, Illinois. This city is deeply committed to sustainability and has established a Sustainability Council with the vision of making Chicago the most livable, competitive and sustainable city in he world.

In 2012 mayor Emanuel released the Sustainable Chicago 2015 Action Agenda which focuses in a set of 24 goals across seven sustainability categories.

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SUSTAINABLE CHICAGO 2015 ACTION AGENDA

Economic Development LAK N

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Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Transportation Options Water and Wastewater Parks, Open Space and Healthy Food

ILLINOIS CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS

Waste and Recycling Climate Change

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Sustainable Chicago 2015, Year two. Progress Report-Fall 2014. City of Chicago Council.

UPTOWN, CHICAGO The design test site is located in Uptown, a north east region in Chicago along Lake Michigan. Uptown is an area rich in cultural diversity, history, and entertainment venues.

Within Uptown we find the neighborhood of Andersonville Terrace, which also borders and gets its name from the Andersonville neighborhood, an area home to one of the city’s largest LGBT communities, recognized for its diversity, eccentric atmosphere and distinctive flavor.

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UPTOWN

ANDERSONVILLE

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ANDERSONVILLE TERRACE

UPTOWN

CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS

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ANDERSONVILLE TERRACE The neighborhood’s commercial district is made up almost entirely of independent, locally-owned businesses. Moreover, there is a program called eco-Andersonville which promotes social, environmental and economic sustainability in the area.

Eco-Andersonville launched a merit badge program that recognizes businesses for achievement in one of five different categories including water and energy conservation, waste reduction, sustainable transportation, and local ownership.

Since 2012 this program has worked to install six bike corrals along a one mile stretch of North Clark street, adding additional secure bike parking spaces to one of the busiest commercial stretches in Chicago.

Furthermore, there is a Community “Compost Club� that provides a food scraps collection service. Members get a clean 5-gallon bucket to throw compostable food scraps in.

This bucket is picked up and replaced regularly, and then delivered to one of several local farms where the actual composting takes place.

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Locally-owned Business Sustainable Business Sustainable Transportation Community Composting Site Location

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4814-4850 NORTH C RK ST. Andersonville terrace is a thriving example of colorful sustainable urban living and the ideal location for this thesis design test, which site is located at 4814-4850 North Clark St. The site is an existing building complex built in 2005. The complex is composed of two five-story twin constructions of approximately 18000 square feet each. The complex sits just across from St. Boniface Cemetery, and it comprehends a courtyard retail on the first level and condominiums on levels two to five.

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Southwest View of Existing Building

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Southeast View of Existing Building

DESIGN PROPOSAL The relationship of the site to its surrounding context as well as my research in sustainability helped with my program development. I am proposing to design a mixed use commercial and residential program, which will serve both residents of the complex as well as the surrounding community and provide a model for a sustainable urban system in Chicago.

Rotating the view we have a better angle of the complex. The main entrance to the major commercial areas is on the south side, residents can access the complex through this entry or through the driveway located on Clark Street.

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TREET

3D View

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Rotated 3D View

PROGRAMMING South of the complex stands a greenhouse ideal for urban farming and a plaza. Level 1 is mainly commercial with a fresh produce market, restaurant and fitness center on the south side, and cafĂŠ-bike shop, hair salon, art store, and resale shop on the north building. There are also a lounge area, laundry and recycling facilities available for all residents.

Level 2 consists of 22 rental apartment units, 11 on each side, terraces on both north and south side, and a bridge that connects both buildings.

Levels 3 to 5 are typical and contain the same layout as Level 2 minus the terraces.

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Recycling & Laundry

Recycling & Laundry

Resale Shop Art Store

Lounge

Market Greenhouse

Cafe

Plaza

Hair Salon

Fitness Center Restaurant

LEVEL 1

North Terrace

Studio 1 BR 1 BR Studio Studio

1 BR

2 BR

2 BR 1 BR

2 BR

Bridge

2 BR

LEVEL 2 Levels 3-5: Typical

LEVELS 3-5 N

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USER PROFILE The sustainable aspects of the complex are are not the only features that set this model apart, a comprehensive study and sustainable approach has been taken to design every space and experience within this complex, making it the ideal place for nature lovers, families, and everyone wanting to live in a place that fosters the welfare of our planet.

The complex welcomes diversity, and offers commercial and residential spaces accessible to people from different economic and social backgrounds. Jim and Mary for example, are a couple that had been living in the area for a while, Jim is an accountant and Mary is a stay home mom, they have one son, Jay, the building complex gives their son a safe, healthy and eco-friendly environment to grow in.

Tom is a graduate student who just moved into this complex, motivated by all the sustainable aspects and services the complex offers which matched perfectly his green living philosophy.

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JIM, MARY & JAY

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TOM

SITE P N ANALYSIS Looking at the site plan we get a better sense of the building complex. Upon arrival on the ground level, visitors can directly enter into the greenhouse located to the south, or walk along the path that passes through the plaza and takes them to the south building. At this point, there is a common entry point that allows visitors access to the fresh produce market and restaurant, residents can also use this entry to get to the lobby and elevators through a secured locked door. There are also two other entries to the residential program on the west side of the complex. Access to the different commercial spaces is available along Clark Street.

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LAWRENCE AVENUE 47

CLARK STREET

SUSTAINABLE FEATURES A sustainable approach has been used to the overall exterior and interior composition and programing. The complex is placed in an accessible location, fosters the use of bicycles and public transportation, has green roofs, a geothermal heating and cooling system, promotes community and nature interaction, offers gardening spaces, composting and recycling facilities, plenty of daylight and natural views.

A walkthrough of the interior from a user perspective will portray the space as it is experienced and help us have a better understanding of how the design drivers from this study were translated to inform the interior design. Let’s see what is like in a typical day of a resident of this complex.

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Green Roofs

Stormwater management

Waste & Recycling

Urban Farming

Geothermal system Parks & Open Spaces Access to Public Transportation

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Foster Community

Bike Friendly

GREENHOUSE On a Saturday afternoon, Tom takes a bus home from school and gets dropped off on Lawrence Ave. He first stops at the greenhouse to say hi to some of his friends who volunteer here on the weekends; this is where he met Jim and Mary weeks ago. Here, fresh vegetables are grown all year long; there is a composting facility on the back, some exterior farming spaces outside, and translucent solar paneling on the roof.

Residents and neighbors enjoy coming here to volunteer, make new friends, and enjoy the contact with nature. The mixture between wood and greens from nature, with steel and glass typical in cities, make a nice contrast in this space. Clean air, solar energy, fresh vegetables‌ Urban farming is the future!

LAWRENCE AVENUE CLARK STREET

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URBAN MARKET AT THE P ZA Tom goes on and passes through the plaza, where there’s a farmers market and live music every Saturday. Residents and neighbors are invited to sale goods that they produced or items that they are not using anymore. Nice shading systems cover up the path that takes you to the building.

There is a fountain in the middle where people like to gather, green grass on the west ideal for picnics on sunny days, and outdoor seating for the restaurant on the east side. Tom decides to stay and listen to some live music.

LAWRENCE AVENUE CLARK STREET

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LEVEL 1 - FLOOR P N The First level is mainly commercial. There is a food market with fresh produce available from local farms, a restaurant that provides a healthy organic menu, a health & fitness center, a new concept of a cafĂŠ combined with a bike shop, a hair salon, an art store, and resale shop that specializes in furniture restoration, a lounge area and laundry and recycling facilities available for residents of the complex.

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LEVEL 1 - SUSTAINABLE FEATURES This level has different sustainable elements along its composition. Going back to my design drivers, “sense of community” influenced the making of spaces for encounter to create the opportunity to meet, greet, and connect. “Smart sourcing” is not only reflected in the materiality but also in the different technologies applied in the interiors such as watersaving fixtures, daylight and motion sensors in the lighting systems for areas with irregular circulation such as restrooms and hallways. “Nature connection” inspired the material selection using natural patterns and textures as well as the use of glass and translucent materials to take advantage of natural light. “Eco-living” inspired the provision of bike racks, recycling, and shared laundry facilities. Let’s go see what Tom is up to.

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Waste & Recycling Bike Friendly Water Conservation Foster Community

Daylight Saving

Beauty & Spirit Sustainable Materials & Sources Views of Nature

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COMMERCIAL LOBBY Tom arrives at the main entrance of the complex. He passes the vestibule and enters a hall. There are interactive screens where people can learn about different events and sustainable programs available not only in the complex but all around Chicago. At this point there is access to the fresh produce market, restaurant and residential area.

Curved recycled resin panels work as partitions but at the same time their transparency allows daylight to travel through the space. He decides to go get some bread and wine from the Market’s bakery.

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FOOD MARKET The market sells the best breads in town, so they say. It also has fresh produce from local farms; it even has produce from the green house next door!

The design is very open, light, and simple to make the colorful produce stand out to customers. Wood is used throughout the space to give it a nice nature friendly look. Low-VOC paint is used along the walls using organic patterns and textures.

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RESTAURANT Tom then stops at the restaurant to grab a quick bite. He loves this restaurant, the ingredients they used are fresh and organic, and it offers a tasty healthy menu. The design is delightful.

Although the ambiance looks elegant, clean and natural, the experience is more casual, and fosters human interaction through a very open layout, long bar, and communal tables.

Dark reclaimed wood, and green tones blend seamlessly with the gray from mullions, steel table legs, and stone flooring.

The pendant lights are made from recycled glass bottles, and although they are big, they still let daylight shine through during the day. The ceiling detail symbolizes connectivity and interaction not only with nature but within a community. Who would have thought sustainable design could look this good!

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FITNESS CENTER Tom grabs a sandwich to go and goes on into the lobby, checks his mailbox, and stops at the fitness center for a quick work out. Energy efficient lighting systems are installed, and the interior gets plenty of daylight throughout the day. This is the perfect spot to work out while enjoying a nice view of Clark Street. After running on the treadmill, Tom proceeds to go up the elevator to the second floor.

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LEVEL 2 - FLOOR P N The second floor has twenty-two apartment units, eleven units on each side. Some units are studios, one-bedroom, and twobedroom apartments. There is a recycling facility on each floor, and a community bridge that connects both buildings. The hallways are wide and have access to natural lights through windows. There is a terrace available for units on the south and north wings of the complex. The distribution and floor planning is typical on the rest of the floors above.

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LEVEL 2 - SUSTAINABLE FEATURES Influenced by the “Sense of community� driver, all units differ significantly in size, layout, and rental price to foster diversity within the residents. There is also a bridge that serves a connection between both buildings and functions as space for working, networking and lounging. All units have great views to the exteriors and get plenty of daylight (Nature Connection).

Again, daylight and motion sensors have been implemented into the lighting system and sustainable materials are being used throughout all units (Smart Sourcing). Recycling facilities on each floor, and dedicated storage spaces for composting buckets in all units have been implemented into the design (Eco-Living).

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Beauty & Spirit

Compost Storage

Energy Efficiency

Daylight Foster Community

Open Layout Sustainable Materials & Sources Natural Views Recycling Facilities

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STUDIO AXON As tom gets off the elevator, he walks along the hallway, which has a nice big window at the end that makes the trip to his unit more pleasing. He follows the light and gets to his studio.

Tom lives in a 700 Square feet studio. It is the smallest of the 11 units on this floor. However, the space planning and open layout design maximized the functionality and feeling of the interior. As you enter the unit, there is a small kitchen and eating area to the left, a bathroom and closet space to the right, straight ahead an open living with a sleeping area divided by steel and resin paneling, and a walk-in closet.

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STUDIO - LIVING AREA Even though the space is small, the feeling of the interior is very open, this was achieved by using translucent & light materials, as well as furniture and light fixtures that have a light look and feel to not overwhelm the interior. The dark steel used in fixtures, furniture, and framings, make a beautiful contrast with the natural color palette and wood flooring.

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STUDIO - SLEEPING AREA The steel framed panels, can slide or fold for privacy or to maximize the space. They are made out of 40% recycled content which accounts for some LEED credit points. All the paints, fabrics, and materials in general were carefully selected based on their Low-VOC content, regional availability, and sustainable certifications. This is great for Tom because he used to have terrible allergies, and now he does not have to worry about them anymore.

Tom gets a text from his neighbors, they are meeting at the bridge before going to Jim and Mary’s place. He picks up the wine and bread he got earlier and walks to the bridge to meet his friends.

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BRIDGE His friends are not here yet but there seems to be a lot going on at the bridge. Residents love to work, lounge and connect here. There is always a good excuse to walk by this bridge.

Light travels throughout all the space, and the exterior views are amazing. There is comfortable furniture to just sit and relax and tables to work and study. The reclaimed wood used in the flooring stands out in the room, its aged tone and nail-hole marks adds a lot of character to the interior.

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TERRACE Tom’s friends show up, it is time to go meet Jim and Mary.

They live in a 1400 SF unit, with two bedrooms and an office.

The weather is nice outside so they decide to go to their terrace. They get a nice view of the plaza and green house from here. And it seems that there is still live music playing down there.

Today is a good day to celebrate friendship, nature, and life. Sustainability brought all this community together, if a residential complex like this would have never existed, perhaps, Tom and his friends would have never crossed paths.

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CONCLUSION This thesis reviewed and researched sustainability in different contexts, analyzed current sustainable guidelines, and synthesized all the research into a set of principles that finally were translated into four design drivers. The design outcome successfully reaches the goal of providing a space that builds a sense of community, fosters an eco-friendly lifestyle, and creates a connection with nature through the smart sourcing of sustainable materials and technologies.

The model presented today is an example of how interior design can be used as a force to influence and shape a community towards a healthier direction that will safeguard the environment, the local economy, and all human beings.

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APPENDIX

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SUSTAINABLE URBAN SYSTEMS Transforming Urban Communities into Sustainable Living Systems through Interior Design By Esau Ramirez A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in Interior Design Harrington College of Design 200 West Madison Chicago, IL 60606 April 2015 1.Definitions Sustainability: Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainable Urbanism: Application of sustainability and resilient principles to the design, planning, and administration/operation of cities.

Green Living: Lifestyle which seeks to bring into balance the conservation and preservation of the Earth’s natural resources, habitats, and biodiversity with human culture and communities.

Ecosystem: An ecosystem is a community of living and non-living things that work and live together.

2.Researcher Background The author was born and raised in a small city on the south coast of Peru. The simplicity of lifestyles and constant interconnection with nature that existed in that environment, typical of a traditional Peruvian town, originated a passion and respect for nature that influenced his work, thinking, and different aspects of his life.

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In 2006, the author moved to the United States to continue his professional studies; he attended the University of Kansas, where he graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biology in 2010.

He then moved back to Peru where he ventured in the real estate development world. It is in this field that he rediscovered one of his past talents and previous passions: art and design. Working alongside architects and interior designers in residential projects in Peru, the author developed a strong interest for architecture and interior design which motivated him to move to Chicago in 2013 to pursue a Master of Arts in Interior Design degree from Harrington College of Design.

At Harrington, the author became immersed in the Interior Design world. He was introduced to many designers and thought leaders from the past and present that began to frame his interests and design philosophy. The field of sustainability had the biggest impact on him and made him dig in deeper with reading and research, where he finally found a connection between both of his biggest passions: nature and design.

The sustainability aspect of design is significant to the author not only at a pragmatic level, such as applying green solutions to interiors, but also at a philosophical level, such as finding beauty and balance while designing sustainably, and being aware that the design decisions made not only satisfy but benefit the user, the designer, the environment, and everyone involved in this process.

3.Introduction Sustainability is based on a simple principle: everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. It creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in a productive harmony that permits meeting the social and economic requirements of present and future generations.

Sustainability can be imagined as a systems approach of relationships, the relationship between humans, the relationship to other beings, and the relationship with our environment. It is

important to make sure that we have and will continue to have, the water, materials, and resources to protect human health and our environment.

The debate on whether today we are being sustainable with our actions and ways of living is over. The negative impacts we have caused not only to our environment but also to ourselves as humans are evident. Climate change, extreme poverty, hunger, and animal extinctions are some of the consequences of the uncontrolled development of a society that follows a consumerist ideology with no concerns toward nature and our surroundings. How can we stop this? Sustainability seems to be the best answer for this question. However, the solution is not that easy and it demands the use of a sustainable philosophy in most aspects of our lives, from the products we use every day to the processes involved in their manufacturing and creation.

Although today we are more informed of the imbalance between society and nature, the future looks promising and green. In the past decade, the discussion on sustainability has grown and reached different audiences, forcing diverse industries to change their processes and products to fit the demands of consumers.

In our current times, people are more aware of nature and the environment so are willing to make changes, and sometimes sacrifices, to live a better life while diminishing negative impacts to their surroundings. This new lifestyle and philosophy of embracing practices which have little or no negative impact on our environment both now or in the future has been named “green living�. Green living is the perfect example that demonstrates a current experience of a paradigm shift to a sustainable world.

The design industry has a major role regarding the direction of this discussion. The design industry is the discipline in charge of specifying different alternatives and products to consumers. In this industry resides the possibility to change the system into a more conscious, just, and sustainable structure.

The building sector consumes the most energy and produces most of the carbon monoxide in the world . The built environment is

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responsible for a great part of the negative impact society has had in the environment. It is imperative to change the way we design and build things. Conceptually, it would be easy to start from scratch, tear down old construction and rebuild cities with a more sustainable approach. Nonetheless, this solution would fail to be sustainable since a great amount of trash would be produced, embedded and new energy would be wasted, and after all it would not be cost

effective. How can cities be more sustainable then? Here is where both smart architecture and interior design play an important role. One of the main principles of sustainability is to work with what it is available. Repurposing and giving new life to buildings is the best way to get on the path of sustainability.

Interior design has the power to transform spaces within existing buildings to green, eco-friendly, and thoughtful living systems.

The purpose of this thesis investigation is not to challenge definitions of sustainability but instead to pose sustainability as an active question. The study explores the territory and history of sustainability which is defined by an intellectual based theoretical framework drawn from research. The goal here is to examine the situation of sustainability in the present, analyze different existing standards and guidelines used to measure sustainability in urban architecture, and interior design, and to translate the essence of these systems into a set of principles imperative to a successful sustainable interior design.

4.Thesis Statement The built environment and nature are interrelated in complex ways that are just beginning to be understood. Postindustrial culture is becoming aware of the negative effects caused in the environment and how these affect the well-being of both current and future generations. There is a growing movement opting for green alternatives and a series of guidelines have been created to regulate a sustainable development in the built environment.

This thesis examines sustainability in the urban context, analyzes current sustainable guidelines used in the built environment, and synthesizes the essence of these standards into a set of principles and drivers imperative to a sustainable interior design in an urban environment.

5.Social Framework 5.1Historical Background In recent centuries the world has changed dramatically. Nature which once seemed to be indomitable and invulnerable has been taken over and tamed by the power of mankind. Our planet had to make room for emerging cities. Thriving forests and green prairies were turned into concrete jungles. Civilization imposed its order in chaos.

Leaders and designers were in charge of bringing order and meaning to a random chaotic world.

Driven by ambitious ideals that were aiming for progress and development the world began a fast transformation after the Industrial Revolution in the mid-1800s. Machines replaced human labor; mass production led to affordability and a new era of consumerism. In the market economy that arose in this era, natural resources seemed infinite, ecosystems seemed adaptable and immortal, leading to a society with few environmental concerns.

Blinded by the positive outcomes of human progress, society did not see the costs of all our advances and neglected the negative effects we had in the environment. Dense forests were cut down, water bodies were polluted with chemical and organic wastes disposed from factories and cities, and fresh air was turned into smog.

Food, air, water, and shelter, which once were considered absolute necessities for life were then left aside to make room for the new priorities of comfort, efficiency, and convenience.

It was in the twentieth century, that the negative effects we had caused in the environment became more clear and apparent.

Scientific research and new technologies also made the world community become more aware of the repercussions of our progress. Devastating floods like the Great Mississippi Flood of

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1927, deadly fogs like the one in Donora, Pennsylvania, that killed twenty and left thousands more ill in 1948, or the infamous London Smog that killed four thousand people in 1952, made clear that the world was losing its balance.

In the late 1950s, Rachel Carson, a marine biologist from Pennsylvania, initiated a research project to study synthetic pesticides that she believed were causing environmental problems.

The result was Silent Spring, a best-selling study published in 1962 that brought her environmental concerns to the general public resulting in an awareness that nature was vulnerable to human intervention. The book documented and demonstrated that the indiscriminate use of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and other chemicals used to enhance agricultural productivity were causing detrimental effects on nature and humans that were too frightening to be ignored. The contamination of water bodies, cancer, genetic damage, and the deaths of entire species, were some of the threats that Carson outlined in her study. “Before Silent Spring, nearly all American believed that science was a force for good. […]

Thanks to her, the destruction of nature could no longer be called progress.”

Human progress in science and technology was at a new high point during this decade of the 1950’s. A few years later, in 1969 the Apollo 11 landed the first humans on the moon. The world population kept increasing at the same pace as our advances. In 1974 the global population reached the 4 billion mark.

The work of Carson inspired a grassroots environmental movement that led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 under President Richard Nixon’s government. The U.S. Envir lations based on laws passed by Congress. Common urban images are stacks emitting smoke such as from burning discarded automobile batteries in Houston in 1972. In 1975 this plant was closed as a result of the push for greater environmental protection.

In 1987 population growth around the world substances that deplete the ozone layer, the first step in a global-atmospheric-protection agreement. This was important because the negotiations involved industry and began the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) and related chemicals that deplete the ozone layer.

In 1992, William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart published The Hannover Principles: Design for Sustainability. This was a set of statements that addressed designing buildings and objects with forethought for their environmental impact, their effect on the sustainability of growth, and their overall impact on society.

In this decade the environment was already making its way into most political discussions. In 1998 President Clinton issued three “greening executive orders” to use a sustainable approach in the different federal offices around the United States.

In 1999, Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and Hunter Lovins published Natural Capitalism: Creating the next Industrial Revolution. This book suggests redesigning industry on closed loops and zero waste biological models which then lead the way to Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. The next year, 2000, USGBC launched the LEED Green Building Rating System version 2.0. At this time the global population reached the 6 billion mark.

In 2002, Architecture 2030, an independent organization was established in response to the climate change crisis to rapidly transform the built environment from the major contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to a central part of the solution to the climate and energy crises. The same year Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things was published. This is a biomimetic approach to the design of products and systems. It models human industry on nature’s processes viewing materials as nutrients circulating in healthy, safe metabolisms.

In 2005 the Kyoto Protocol came into effect. Almost all developed countries in the world, with the notable exception of the United States pledged to reduce the emission of gases that contribute to global warming. In the same year, the Living Building Challenge, a green certification program similar to LEED, was created.

In 2007, Al Gore’s documentary about climate change, An Inconvenient Truth, was released. This is a film about his campaign to educate citizens about global warming. The documentary was a critical and box-office success, winning two Academy Awards, and becoming the tenth highest grossing documentary film to date in the United States. Since the film’s release, An Inconvenient Truth has been credited for raising international public awareness of climate

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change and reenergizing the environmental movement.

5.1 The Building Industry Today At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the building industry in the United States is slowly but consistently developing and piloting p Today the environment is part of almost every discussion,

from pop culture like the Live Earth Concerts made to bring environmental, political, and economical awareness to young generations around the world, to politics and economics.

In the building sector, many certification programs were created

to make sure the products and design approaches used in the built environment are green and sustainable. Some of the most famous certification programs and guidelines created to promote sustainability are: the Freiburg Charter, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, and the Living Building Challenge.

6.Theoretical Framework Many certifications programs have been created to address issues of sustainability and to make sure the products and design approaches used in the built environment contribute to a healthy development of the planet. The ones this thesis focused on are: the Freiburg Charter, the LEED rating system, and the Living Building Challenge. Further analysis of these different systems gives us a better understanding of their overarching principles.

6.1 The Freiburg Charter The Freiburg Charter is a document produced by the city of Freiburg, Germany. This city won the World Habitat Award in 2013 making it one of the most sustainable cities in the world. Freiburg is located in southern Germany and it has long been a beacon of sustainable urbanism. Thanks to its sustainable development, over the last 30 years, this city has received many awards, including the European City of the Year in 2010.

The Freiburg Charter is being widely discussed and used by planning authorities around the world. The document begins with 9 objectives that guide the spirit of the study: 1. The conservation of identity, strengthening of neighborhood and encouragement of its cultural diversity and distinctiveness.

2. The expansion of public transport and its interconnection with existing and new developments.

3. The wise use of resources, minimizing additional land take up, and the encouragement of moderate degrees of urban density.

4. Safeguarding and interconnecting green spaces with networks working toward quality standards and the conservation of public spaces.

5. The assurance of social harmony and advancement of social and functional interaction.

6. Safeguarding existing jobs and creating new and innovative ones.

7. Advancing a culture of discourse.

8. Creating long-term partnerships between the community, and the public and private sectors.

9. Participation in lifelong learning processes, seeing urban life in its wider context.

The objectives are then followed by 12 principles, subdivided in 3 areas, to guide planning and development if a sustainable city is to be achieved: SPATIAL a.Diversity, Safety and Tolerance. This principle includes the use of innovative residential models, provision of facilities in public and private spaces for all generations, and the integration of all strands of society irrespective of ethnicity, gender or age. b.City of Neighborhoods: The inclusion of participatory design, decentralized governance, and the protection of a city’s identity. c.City of Short Distances: Urban development should follow in accordance with the Compact City idea, and give priority to public transport, pedestrian and bicycle networks. d.Public Transport and Density: Public Transport integration in every step of the design process and the best use of density in urban environments.

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CONTENT e.Education, Science & Culture: These are important and influence public life, the attractiveness, and quality of a city. They create opportunities for personal development and life-long learning. f.Industry & Jobs: The conservation of existing employment and development of groundbreaking and innovative businesses are a means to sustain the local economy of a city. g.Nature & Environment: The conservation of biological diversity, the wise use of resources, and the protection of a healthy and livable environment are the foundation of sustainability. h.Promotion of the Highest Quality of Design.

PROCESS i.Long-term Vision: This principle refers back to the past, and projects forward to anticipate the needs of future generations. j.Communication & Participation: This aims at the establishment of a culture of engagement that could be achieved through public discourse. A continuous communication must be supported among the protagonist and stakeholders and the population must be invited to participate, co-operate and engage in all phases of development. k.Reliability, Obligation & Fairness: This principle relates to the governmental aspect of a city and includes consensus, equal rights, and trust. l.Co-operation & Partnership: This last principle involves financial support, citizen commitment and participation in order to distribute and share the burden of sustainable design and development with many.

6.2 Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-inclass building strategies and practices. LEED was developed and is still administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, a Washington D.C. based nonprofit coalition of building industry leaders, with the purpose of helping building owners and operators be environmentally responsible, use resources efficiently, increase profitability while reducing the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improving occupant health and well-being. In the United States and in a number of other countries around the world,

LEED certification is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability. According to their own website achieving LEED certification is the best way to demonstrate that your building project is truly “green.”

LEED certification, involves a rigorous third-party commissioning process to ensure building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Prerequisites and credits differ for each rating system, and teams choose the best fit for their project. Being LEED certified provides proof that a project has achieved successful environmental goals and optimal design, it can also allow projects to take advantage of a series of state and local government incentives and grants.

LEED standards cover new commercial construction and major renovation projects, interiors projects and existing building operations. LEED is flexible enough to apply to all project types.

Each rating system places in categories the requirements that address the unique needs of building and project types on their path towards LEED certification. This rating system also considers building interiors in one of its sections “Interior Design and Construction (ID+C)”. LEED for Interior Design and Construction (LEED ID+C) enables project teams, who may not have control over whole building operations, the opportunity to develop indoor spaces that are better for the planet and for people. The latest version of LEED includes a focus on materiality that goes beyond how much is used to get a better understanding the composition of and what effect those components have on human health and the environment. It also takes a more performance-based approach to indoor environmental quality to ensure improved occupant comfort.

The checklist for LEED Interior Design and Construction is divided into 7 sections:

is based on an “efficiency first” approach to water conservation.

These credits recognize the use of nonpotable and alternative sources of water.

Energy and Atmosphere: This category addresses energy use reduction, energy-efficient design strategies, and renewable energy sources. It states that energy efficiency in a green building starts with a focus on design that reduces overall energy needs, such as building orientation and glazing selection, and the choice of climateappropriate building materials. It gives special attention to the generation of renewable energy on the project site or the purchase of green power, which in turn lowers the demand for traditional sources.

Materials and Resources: This credit category focuses on minimizing the embodied energy and other impacts associated with the extraction, processing, transport, maintenance, and disposal of building materials. It focuses on a larger context of a life-cycle approach to materials, taking into account how every step of its production and use affects the environment and its users.

Indoor Environmental Quality: This category rewards decisions made by project teams regarding indoor air quality and thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort. Indoor environmental quality is important to protect the health and comfort of its users. High-quality indoor environments also enhance productivity, decrease absenteeism, improve the building’s value, and reduce liability for building designers and owners. It discusses a series of design strategies and environmental factors such as air quality, lighting quality, acoustic design, and control over one’s surroundings, that influence the way people learn, work, and live.

Location and Transportation: This section centers on site selection and access to quality transit. Reduced parking footprint and bicycle facilities are encouraged. Surrounding Density and access to diverse facilities are some of the ways to acquire credits in this section.

Innovation: This category recognizes projects for innovative building design solutions and sustainable building practices and strategies. Sometimes, a well thought out strategy results in building performance that greatly exceeds LEED standards, and other times could offer sustainability benefits that are not addressed by LEED.

Water Efficiency: This section addresses water holistically, looking at indoor use, outdoor use, specialized uses, and metering. The section

Regional Priority: This section offers the participant the opportunity to be involved and help their local environment. LEED has identifies

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some environmental issues that are particular to a locale and the credits address those issues. These Regional Priority (RP) credits encourage project teams to focus on their local environmental priorities. “The ultimate goal of RP credits is to enhance the ability of LEED project teams to address critical environmental issues across the country and around the world.”

According to GreenHome.com, while LEED is still the most popular green building certification around the globe, in recent years there has been a debate on how successful the program is and how much it is helping to change our world into a greener planet.

One of the biggest criticisms of LEED has been that it is a checklist that is used by the building industry to get more profit instead of actually saving energy and the planet. Critics say that the list of standards dictated by the program don’t actually lead to buildings that use less energy in some cases, and that the program relies heavily in models and projections which do not usually perform as expected.

6.3 Living Building Challenge (LBC) Living Building Challenge (LBC) is a philosophy, advocacy tool, and certification program that addresses development at all scales. It has been called the toughest green building certification in the world.

The Living Building Challenge program defines “the most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment possible today and acts to rapidly diminish the gap between current limits and the endgame positive solutions we seek.”

to meet the requirements of all LBC petals, growth in emissions from the building sector would cease, and efforts to improve existing stock could yield real reductions in global carbon emissions.

“There is no way to “game” the Living Building Challenge which is a complaint occasionally heard with regard to LEED.” The LBC accreditation program has twenty imperatives divided into seven sections, called petals, which all must be met to be LBC certified.

The Imperatives that are relevant to existing constructions and a potential interior design project are the following: Place a.Limits to growth. Projects may only be built on greyfields or brownfields that are not on or adjacent to sensitive ecological habitats, prime farmland, or within the 100-year flood plain. Onsite landscape designed to emulate the functionality of indigenous ecosystems. The project should provide wildlife and avian habitat, and not allow the use of petrochemical fertilizers or pesticides. b.Urban Agriculture. Integrate opportunities for agriculture in urban environments. c.Habitat Exchange. For each hectare of development, an equal amount of land away from site must be set aside in perpetuity through an approved Land Trust Organization d.Human Powered Living. This include secure weather protected storage for human powered vehicles that provide facilities to encourage biking, transit subsidy for all occupants, accessible shower and changing facilities and at least one electric vehicle charging station.

Although LEED has been a powerful force in the building market, and has triggered the move of design and construction towards a sustainable shift and environmental awareness, it would take more than having all buildings in the world LEED platinum certified to stop the flow of water depletion, carbon emissions, and toxic pollution.

Water a.Net Positive Water. This imperative dictates that project water use and release must work in harmony with the natural water flows of the site and its surroundings. Also, stormwater, grey and black water, must be treated onsite and managed either through re-use, closed loop system, or infiltration.

The Living Building Challenge is a holistic approach to building that requires all project stakeholders to consider the real life cycle impact of design, construction, and operation. The guidelines are divided into categories called petals. If all future buildings were constructed

Energy a.Net Positive Energy. One hundred and five percent of the project’s energy needs must be supplied by on-site renewable energy on a net annual basis, without the use of on-site combustion.

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Health & Happiness a.Civilized Environment. This imperatives dictates that every regularly occupied interior must have operable windows that provide access to fresh air and daylight. b.Healthy Interior Environment. Each project must create a Healthy Interior Environment Plan that explains how it would achieve excellent indoor air quality and comfort. c.Biophilic Environment. This imperative promotes nature inspiration and exploration. Each project design must include elements that foster human/nature connection.

Materials a.Red list. One of the toughest parts of the challenge, this presents a list of materials and chemicals that cannot be contained in any part of the project. b.Embodied Carbon Footprint. Each project have to account for the total embodied carbon impact from its construction. c.Responsible Industry. This imperative fosters advocacy for the creation and adoption of third-party certified standards for sustainable resource extraction and fair labor practices. d.Living Economy Sourcing. Projects must foster local and regional economy rooted in sustainable practices, products, and services. e.Net Positive Waste. Projects must strive to reduce or eliminate waste production throughout the entire life of a building.

Equity a.Human Scale and Human Places. Projects should be designed based on a human scale, to bring the best experience for users. b.Universal Access to nature and place. c.Equitable Investment. This imperative nurtures donation to charities by developers, as a means to give back to the community. d.Just Organizations. Projects should foster a just and equitable society through transparent disclosure of business practices.

Beauty a.Beauty and Spirit. Projects must contain design features intended solely for human delight and the celebration of culture, spirit and place. b.Inspiration and Education. Educational information should be

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available for future study, public share and motivation.

7.Synthesis Today we are experiencing a transition towards a new paradigm of environmental responsibility. Society is beginning to understand the important role that each individual plays in the overall environmental scheme. There is a growing culture that is opting for green alternatives for both products and processes used in our daily lives, such as renewable energy, transportation, agriculture, food packaging, and cleaning supplies. Now is the time to start changing sustainability into a standard for how we design and build things.

7.1 Design Principles LEED, the Living Building Challenge, and the Freiburg Charter provide a useful set of guidelines to achieve sustainability in a great array of projects. These standards apply to different aspects of a project, from the engineering thinking to interior designing. This research studied and analyzed these guidelines aiming to translate them into the more specific field of interior design. After analyzing the commonalities and intricacies of each of these sustainable standards, a set of interior design principles were formulated.

These design principles are essential for the successful design of a sustainable interior space in an urban environment. These principles are: Place: The site selection is an important part in any design project.

A strategic location is fundamental to achieve maximum efficiency and sustainability, taking into account urban density, climate, public facilities, and access to public transportation. The design of a space should foster and protect local identity and welfare. Projects should integrate the spirit of a community into their programming and design process.

People: This principle revolves around human nature. Interiors should be designed for a human scale experience. Every design should foster human interaction and encourage the participation of the people who would inhabit or use that space. Also, interior spaces

should be accessible to everyone. Diversity should be celebrated in regards to the accessibility, comfort, and delight of a space.

Function: This principle includes the functionality, efficiency, and flexibility of an interior. Functionality should be one of the priorities as it gives the practical meaning to a space. Efficiency involves the good use of density, usage, energy and water conservation, and waste management. The goal here is to reduce the footprint we have in the geography and the environment. Also, spaces should be flexible to maximize its usage and promote a dynamic between the user and the built environment.

Space: Interior environments should offer comfort to the user, as well as a feeling of safety. Spaces should promote and protect the health of its users and the environment. Users should be allowed to interact with the space, regulate their experience, and have access to fresh air and daylight. The experience in an interior should be harmonious, comfortable, and interactive.

Nature: Every design should foster nature connection, and provide the user access to the natural environment. This could be achieved through the use of natural views, green walls of plants, gardens, operable windows, etc. The attitude of the interior designer should be optimistic about the environment. A designer should embrace nature, and adapt his/her design to it. None of the design decisions a professional makes should produce a negative impact in the environment.

7.2 Designing a Sustainable Urban Ecosystem An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. A sustainable residential community is a type of urban micro ecosystem, a small residential community where all of its residents have a dynamic interaction at different levels: socially, economically, educationally, and contributing together towards living sustainably and making the world a better place for everyone.

For an urban ecosystem of this type to be successful there are different factors to be taken into account. There are three dimensions that need to be covered and these are: the social, economic, and ecological.

In the social dimension, the goal is to have a constant interaction between the internal and external members of the community. By internal I mean the residents of the community and by external guests, and visitors that do not reside in the community. This goal could be achieved through a strategic programming and design of the built environment: Live: Offering living spaces that provide privacy and comfort to its residents but at the same time the opportunity to meet, greet, and connect with neighbors between living units. A level of interdependency can be created paying especial attention to diversity in a community, creating the opportunity for individuals to support, share, learn and interact with each other.

Sourcing: This principle relates to the materials and sources that are specified in interior design projects. A special consideration and analysis should be taken regarding the selection of materials and systems, taking into account fair labor practices, local and regional economy prosperity, waste reduction, and environment pollution.

Work: Designing programs that involve getting people together to work for a good cause, such as recycling, composting or planting in a community garden. Also, designing spaces that give residents the chance to be able to work in a space other than their residences in a communal environment.

Beauty: Every designer should set beauty as a goal. A successful design should add human delight, appeal, and good design to all its different sustainable components.

Play: Providing spaces for play and social interaction. This could be community rooms for events or meetings, lounge areas, community gardens, recreational facilities, fitness centers, etc.

In the economic dimension, the goal is to boost the local economy, giving members of the community the opportunity to create, support, and promote local businesses. This could be achieved

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by providing programs and spaces where people can sell goods or services, buy and shop, or be used as part of the workforce of a business.

The ecological dimension would be the most important in this model, since it is the common cause and motor that supports the existence of this system. All residents should be aware of the situation of our environment and the negative effects the current system has on it. They should learn about alternative measures to reduce the impact we have on nature, and also be willing to apply those measures in their daily lives and promote sustainability inside and outside the community.

7.3 The Role of the Interior Designer The role that the interior designer plays in the sustainable context is very significant. Interior designers are first and foremost designers.

A designer is a human being attempting to walk the narrow bridge between order and chaos. Interior designers use their creativity and technical knowledge to create spaces where people live, work, and play. A more conscious approach to design is imperative to achieve waste reduction and the negative effects that the building industry has in our planet.

Some examples of sustainable interior design practices include: specifying locally manufactured materials, rapidly renewable and long lasting materials. Solutions for commercial interiors include designing spaces that can easily adapt to the changes in a spaces activities, employees, and technology while conserving resources, giving occupants access to thermal comfort controls and outdoor views, daylighting, designing for minimal heat gain or loss, including centralized energy management units and energy-efficient light systems, efficiently using space to conserve energy and materials, and specifying low-flow fixtures to conserve water.

The approaches to sustainable interior design will be unique to each design project’s criteria. A successful project will blend sustainability into each phase of the design process, its execution and post-occupancy. An Interior designer juggles client concerns, cost factors, time restraints, and technology among other things.

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Sustainability adds yet another factor to the design mix.

The interior designer is an educator. However, the impact of the interior designer goes further than the physical built environment and reaches human experience and interactions. Through design we can influence emotions and feelings by creating unique user experiences in interior spaces. For years Interior designers have supported and sometimes influenced the lifestyles of people. We have created and designed the world that surrounds us, from the extravagant and luxurious interiors of the Palace of Versailles, to the Taj Mahal in India. Our work has added comfort, functionality, beauty, and value to our surroundings. Nonetheless this also calls for our participation in the accountability for the direction society has been heading towards. This is a society that followed consumerism and greed as its main values. Clients do not always understand the negative effects and consequences some specified materials or design decisions have in the environment. It is part our job to help inform our clients about the different materials and options available for a project, how they affect the environment and help educate them about sustainable solutions and alternatives. A designer has always been a teacher. It is part of our job to inform, educate, and influence our clients.

The interior designer can be an activist. Activists are people who see the need for change and devote their time to doing something about it. They are driven by passion and a vision for a better future. Environmental quality is a public good; an interior designer committed to sustainability should not stop their work at the drafting table. A sustainable philosophy should be applied to every aspect of life and there should be a passion about making a difference, and changing the world for the better. As stated by Nathan Stegall, and industrial designer and sustainability activist, “Interior Designers directly influenced the actions of individuals and communities, changed attitudes and values, and shaped society in surprisingly fundamental ways�.

Interior designers need to redirect their ways of working and help guide the shift toward a more sustainable world.

The interior designer is a leader. Passion and activism will elevate

the work of a designer and turn him/her into a leader. A leader is someone who has a vision, a drive and a commitment to achieve that vision, and the skills to make it happen. Leaders see a problem that needs to be fixed or a goal that needs to be achieved. There is an ecological and environmental dimension to all human activities, and interior design is not the exception.

Cargo, Alicia. 2013. An evaluation of the use of sustainable material databases within the interior design profession. Senior Capstone Project, University of Florida.

It is time now for new generations of designers to be aware of the effects and reach of their work and to take sustainability into account throughout the design process. Knowing and learning about sustainability and applying it into their designs give interior designers not only the satisfaction of contributing to a good change for the world but also adds value to their work in a culture that is beginning to think green and sustainably.

McDonough, William, and Michael Braungart. Cradle to cradle: remaking the way we make things. New York: North Point Press, 2002.

8.Conclusion Sustainability should not be a discussion, it should be a standard.

Society should not aim to diminish waste but to support and give back to the environment. The design industry has an important role to play in this discussion. Designers should add sustainable solutions to every project.

The seven principles described in this study should be used as a guide from the starting point and throughout the entire design process. Place, people, nature, function, space, sourcing, and beauty are all different dimensions of a design, using these elements as sustainable principles as described in this study would help a project achieve an excellent level of sustainability that would resonate not only inside the interior spaces but in the natural environment.

9.Bibliography Bacon, Leigh. 2011. Interior Designer’s Attitudes Toward Sustainable Interior Design Practices and Barriers Encountered when using Sustainable Interior Design Practices. Theses from the Architecture Program, University of Nebraska. Paper 104.

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

Papanek, Victor J. The green imperative: natural design for the real world. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1995.

Papanek, Victor J. Design for the real world; human ecology and social change. [1st American ed. New York: Pantheon Books, 19721971.

Yeang, Ken. Designing with nature: the ecological basis for architectural design. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1995.

Winchip, Susan M. Sustainable design for interior environments. 2nd ed. New York: Fairchild Books, 2011.

Adhya, Anirban. “Defining Sustainable Urbanism: Towards a Responsive Urban Design.” Proceedings of the Conference on Sustainability and the Built Environment., 2010. Accessed March 1, 2015. www.academia.edu.

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