Introduction
Waste has become a great issue in the current world. Due to human activities, waste production is inevitable, and it has become evident that environmental pollution is caused by waste. Waste production is recurrent, from the creation and use of products to the construction and maintenance of facilities, and every part of daily human life produces waste. Consequently, experts not only in interior design but also in different professions should understand that they have a role in decreasing waste and promoting sustainability (Reham & Eldin, 2017). Additionally, As an interior designer, one has the right to make material selection, space arrangement, and behavioral recommendations in the built environment, which can significantly lead to the reduction of waste in any project. However, by incorporating waste management programs into their interior design, designers have a chance to participate in the global campaign to cut down on the environmental footprint of human activities. In this essay, it will discuss the precedents that can be used as prototypes when it comes to waste minimization in interior design. The essay also highlights how designers can successfully create various spaces that have successfully incorporated sustainability without doing any functionality in their projects.
Thematic overview
Interior designers need to pay attention to the issue of waste production and waste management. This is important because interior design is one of the sectors that is leading in waste production. The design process that starts with the selection of materials takes into account not only costs and aesthetics but also waste and sustainability aspirations. Nonetheless, the environmental and social impacts of waste production are beyond the role of interiors (Demirkan & Afacan, 2018). One of the numerous disastrous consequences of people’s wasteful habits is the increasing levels of garbage accumulated in landfills and the depletion of natural resources. Moreover, the influence of waste on human health and welfare should not be overlooked, as the discharges of pollution and toxins from waste affect humans and communities as well. Furthermore, there are also the costs of waste disposal and management, which is another issue that society has to fight to sustain the environment (Winchip, 2011). An interior designer can drive a bigger international movement to address these critical problems by analyzing the way that waste is dealt with in the built environment. This could lead to a more sustainable future.
Research Question
The main research topic that this essay seeks to answer is: What are the ways in which interior designers take waste reduction strategies into consideration while trying to fix the environmental effects of human activities? To critically answer this question, this essay is going to analyze a case study of a good waste reduction scheme in interior design. By knowing the principles of this project, one can acquire essential knowledge on how designers can reduce waste in their projects.
Precedent analysis.
The case study chosen for this assessment is the “Zero Waste Bistro,” which was a limited project that was done by Finnish designer Linda Bergroth for the 2018 New York Design Week (González, 2020). The Zero Waste Bistro, which opened in New York City, promotes sustainable ways to reduce wastage in the hospitality sector. The restaurant was equipped with recycled and recyclable materials, such as repurposed food packaging and biodegradable tableware. The purpose of the project was to use all edible parts of vegetables, including leafy stems, and to create dishes of appropriate serving size to prevent leftovers. Moreover, the initiative also put in place a composting system that would ensure that the waste was repurposed and that fertilizer was used for the community gardens.
This project, the Zero Waste Bistro, fulfills its mission through its holistic vision. By focusing on waste reduction at every design stage, from material selection to planning menus and waste management, this project presents designers with an opportunity to create spaces that are environmentally conscious at every level. The use of recycled and recyclable materials highlights a chance for remaking waste into alluring and practical design components. The menu design and portion control for food waste reduction demonstrate the role interior designers have in determining user behavior and promoting sustainable actions. Although the Zero Waste Bistro was a temporary initiative, its waste reduction strategies are scalable and thus suitable for a range of interior design projects (González, 2020). The principles of materials choice, waste management, and user involvement can be applied to residential, commercial, and institutional areas, so this project can be a role model for designers who try to reduce waste.
Relevance to Personal Work and Interior Design Practice
As an interior designer, I always look for sustainable practices that minimize waste and encourage environmental awareness. Zero Waste Bistro is a good illustration of how designers can blend waste reduction techniques into their designs without making them less attractive or functional. At the same time, the project’s emphasis on material selection and waste management reflects my interest in promoting sustainable materials and developing waste reduction strategies during construction.
Nevertheless, problems with waste reduction strategies in interior design projects can appear, for example, when working with clients who care more about the cost or the aesthetic aspect than the environmental ones (Stark & Park, 2016). It is the responsibility of the designers to impart such knowledge to the clients and to promote sustainability throughout the design process. Furthermore, effective implementation of waste reduction initiatives mainly depends on the engagement of contractors, suppliers, and users, which demands collaboration and communication skills with the project team. Despite these barriers, the Zero Waste Bistro proves that interior designers can be game changers who take sustainable design seriously. Designers are encouraged to use innovative solutions and techniques to create spaces that are not only eco-friendly but also allow people to have individual eco-responsible lifestyles.
Conclusion.
To sum up, the Zero Waste Bistro clearly presents the various ways and processes interior designers can incorporate sustainable design approaches to their projects to mitigate the ecological impact of the species. This project shows that design is capable of creating spaces that are both functional and stylish while keeping sustainability in mind. This can be indicated through the dialectical approach the project used to approach material selection, waste management, and user involvement,
Waste management has become quite a global issue, and it calls for action. Interior designers have a role to play when it comes to the promotion of sustainable practices. Designers can be a part of the global movement by promoting the mentioned principles and innovatively using ways to reduce waste. Additionally, the problems of waste generation are manifold and varied. They require interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to tackle them effectively. Therefore, interior designers can be the agents of change in this regard by applying their imaginative and creative capacities to create spaces that inspire sustainable behaviors and encourage environmentally conscious attitudes. The impact of waste management tools that are used in projects has ensured that designers can significantly reduce the harmful nature-alienating effects of human activity. Nonetheless, this planet will continue to live healthier and more sustainably for the next generations.
References
Demirkan, H., & Afacan, Y. (2018). Setting the key issues and a prioritization strategy for designing sustainable interior environments. METU Journal of the Faculty of Architecture, 35(1).
González, M. F. (2020, July 23). Zero Waste Bistro Restaurant / Linda Bergroth. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/918806/zero-waste-bistro-restaurant-linda-bergroth
Pilatowicz, G. (2015). Sustainability in interior design. Sustainability: The Journal of Record, 8(3), 101-104.
Reham, M. M., & Eldin, M. (2017). Sustainable interior design for homes. Indian Journal of Science and Technology.
Stark, J., & Park, J. G. P. (2016). Interior design students’ perceptions of sustainability. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 17(3), 361-377.
Winship, S. M. (2011). Sustainable Design for Interior Environments second edition. A&C Black.
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