Who is ultimately responsible for advancing the use of sustainable design materials and products in our communities, architects or interior designers?

Most communities whether located in historic or new neighborhoods were the brain child of a visionary developer and/or a creative architect. Here in the Tampa Bay Area, modern developments incorporating sustainable design, are few and far in between. If one cannot recognize sustainable design practices being incorporated on the exterior of a building, most likely it has not been addressed in the interior construction and design.

 “It is impossible to separate the design of a building from the design of its interior.” The interior evolves directly from the formal and conceptual ideas of the building, and the building is (or should be) directly impacted by programmatic and human behavioral constraints of the interior (http://www.di.net/articles/interior-design-and-architecture/, 04/25/2013).

The main focus of interior design is to protect the health, safety needs, and welfare of the user or public at large. It is vital that sustainable materials take priority when product selections are being completed in all areas of design.  A few examples are VOC free paints, formaldehyde free drywall and carpeting, textiles free of harmful chemicals and dyes, to be used on furniture and fabrics, also choosing LED or natural lighting for illumination.

Interior designers have greater potential to impact the advancement of sustainable design on a micro level in our communities, because of their intimate involvement with each space, along with the depth and attention given to the safety and health of all users.

 References:

http://www.di.net/articles/interior-design-and-architecture/

Definition of Interior Design available from   http://www.ncidq.org/aboutus/aboutinteriordesign/definitionofinteriordesign.aspx