OLIVER HEATH Below: This bathroom combines nature, technology and opulence
thinking that we need to apply to any element that uses basic resources. Look for energy efficiency ratings, look for durability, and buy good quality items; sustainability is so often embedded within. Natural elements, materials
such as cotton, wood, wool, cork, rubber and leather can all come from well-managed sustainable sources. In the case of timber products, look for the FSC logo, which will ensure a well-managed chain of custody and land management, and not profit the illegal logging industry. So natural resources aren’t unnecessarily depleted. Many of these natural materials not only stand the test of time by aging well, but are also available
without toxins. Often like food, the less processing a material has undergone, the less likely it is to contain toxins. Vintage is playing an ever-increasing role in our perception of cool. Not only will using vintage items (or “antique” if you’re more comfortable with that) prevent usable furniture and materials from going into obscurity and perhaps even landfill sites, Vintage can add to interiors. It will soften the harder edges off contemporary design, and express personal identity, creating designs that reflect the characters and life of the user, producing richer more individual spaces to inhabit. Perhaps it’s a vintage bed, table, sideboard unit; we like to create quirky combinations such as vintage
130 | 2012 | INTERIOR DESIGN YEARBOOK |
lampshades with low energy LED bulbs.
Of course some spaces will be better suited to a leaning towards technology and nature, such as kitchens or bathrooms which have a high resource use, whilst living spaces such as bedrooms and lounges may have a greater leaning towards the use of natural materials and vintage items. The choice is yours but it is this balance between technology, nature and vintage that allows us to create low energy spaces, that age well, without the toxins yet also have character and identity to match. The market is demand driven so it is up to us all to be asking suppliers and retailers for better products with an understanding of its impact and a
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41