21st C: Ever-Surging Momentum Towards SDGs Realization

The 21st Century has been marked with ever-surging momentum towards the realization of globally adoptable Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDGs are part items of the UN's post-2015 development agenda primarily initiated with a motive to end poverty. However, in recent times SDGs goals are ambitiously expanding beyond poverty elimination and food security to other areas like health and energy. With the latest Anthropocene-oriented conventions warning that humanity is on an environmentally dangerous path because of human activity, environmentalism has become a critical item for the SDGs (Assembly, 2015). These renewed concerns have touched many areas, among them being construction and housing, in effect extending to interior design. Interior design is loosely defined as the art and science of aesthetically enhancing a building's interior, often motivated by visual communication, which essentially is the delivery of message via visible items of art and design.

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Research objective and Problem Statement

In the interest of sustainable development, the environment is one of the most important items. Both traditional and contemporary art and design have had a significant impact on the environment, mainly interior design, which employs things like wood as its central arts paraphernalia. In essence, interior design and sustainable development have been at conflicting standpoints. There is a need to harmonize this conflict. To realize this, the goal is to pursue environmentally-friendly interior design methods and construction in the built environment that would enhance the environmental safety of the current and future generations. It is only in the past two decades that interior designers have begun to comprehend the complexities and the repercussions of their activities on their planet. At the back of this awareness, new ideas like green design, ecological design, sustainable, and environmentally conscious designs birthed and used interchangeably, albeit they bear subtle differences. The sustainable design aims at the macro objective of global environmental enhancement and safeguarding of the ecosystem. However, most existent resources touching on the adoption of sustainable design and employment of environmentally friendly building inputs focus mainly on the construction and design of buildings and not categorically interior design (Jones, 2008).

The objective of this thesis is three-fold. First, explore the previous literature on the application of sustainable development concepts in contemporary interior decoration. Its second objective is to avail of empirical evidence of the most adopted method for sustainable design by interior designers. Third, its purpose will be to establish if any, there exist challenges for interior designers in adopting sustainable development concepts in contemporary interior design.

Research Questions

To achieve its first objective, this research proposal will focus on answering the following question:

What are the main methods adopted by interior designers in their attempt to attain sustainable design about previous literature?

To achieve its second objective, this thesis will answer the following question;

What are the sustainable design methods most employed by contemporary interior designers?

Lastly, to achieve its third objective, it will answer the following formed question;

What do interior designers view as the most significant impediment in attaining sustainable development in their designs?

Literature Review

Sustainable development in contemporary interior design or environmentally conscious interior design is becoming a vital concern in recent times. It is becoming applicable in almost all aspects of life today (Lin, 2019). Like any other topic, it has attracted studies and researches, albeit not voluminous. According to El-Zeney (2017), most people today see a crucial need to bring sustainability issues into the curricula of Interior Design, albeit, studies show that most current programs on interior design have incorporated sustainability in their teachings. Being a relatively new idea, it is shrouded in mystery and misunderstanding for designers, thus the suggestion for its integration in curricula. Despite all these challenges, some designers are already adopting methods towards sustainable interior design. With the existence of relevant measures and ideas on green or sustainable design, this concept is being recognized widely. Concurrently many standards have been established as a yardstick for models. The concept of sustainable development in design propounds keen observation in the use and transfer of resources to realize the conservation of energy and reduce material resource consumption. This is pursued through the adoption of renewable raw materials as opposed to one time-usable one. In contemporary, some designers are using artificial materials to decorate while meeting the aesthetical appeal of clients (Lin, 2019). In pursuit of green buildings, designers are optimizing the utility of interior space to curb wastage of resources in the construction and usage of buildings. Interior designers are integrating technology at the center of contemporary works in order to realize sustainable development by every means. As quoted by Alnaser (2008), designers of MKM Commercial Holdings LLC, in Dubai, UAE, for example, fitted the building with waterless urinals in some places and utilized eco-friendly sealants recycled wood and carpets for its interiors. The lighting was also styled to meet the green construction guidelines, and the rooms were fitted with carbon dioxide sensors to maintain the freshness of the air in the places.

However, adoption of the sustainable development concept in contemporary interior design meets it some challenges too. In the event that a substantial amount of synthetic materials is utilized in interior design, it would pose a significant threat of harm to inhabitants. Since harmlessness remains a foundational pillar in the plan, it pits designers in a precarious position. Pollution-free resources lie at the center of decoration material selection and must be in strict adherence to national legislative requirements. The material should not only be useful use-wise but ought to be natural and not impose bodily harm to persons (Lin, 2019).

Significance of the Study

This study will contribute instrumentally on this topic. First, it will add to existing literature shreds of evidence on this sustainable development in interior design. Second, by empirically analyzing the metamorphosis in contemporary interior design towards a sustainable development agenda, it will provide tones of perspectives on the future of interior design and its crucially in safeguarding the environment.

Research Methodology

In order to effectively meet its objectives and substantially contribute to this topic, this research proposal is a qualitative. First, it explores previous literature on interior designs for sustainable development goals. Secondly, it will gather empirical evidence on the most suitable and adaptable methods for sustainable interior designs. In order to collect these empirical evidences, the study will employ an interview methodology. The interviews will be semi-structured, constituting open-ended questions to help attain a more in-depth insight on this subject. The interview is the preferred methodology because they are more effective or feasible in achieving results compared to other methods like a survey. Surveys on a significant population may give results that are more generalizable, albeit the responses usually are not as reflective and insightful as interviews.

References

Alnaser, N. W. (2008). Towards sustainable buildings in Bahrain, Kuwait, and United Arab emirates. The Open Construction and Building Technology Journal, 2(1).

Assembly, G. (2015). Sustainable Development goals. SDGs), transforming our world: the, 2030.

El-Zeney, R. M. (2017). Towards sustainable interior design education in Egypt. Asian Journal of Environment-Behaviour Studies, 2(5), 109-119.

Lin, S. (2019). Application of Green Design Concept in Interior Design.