Green design is not one size fits all. Everyone has different needs, histories, demographics and cultures; all which are reflected in our daily living.
Bureaucrats and politicians are faced with the complexities of trying to blanket a single environmental practice over a vast and diverse nation. However, the daily living needs of Bob in rural Saskatchewan are quite different than Jill in urban Vancouver, and unique again for Lars in Iqualuit. We’ve seen a single prescriptive solution for all tried before and we know it doesn’t work. As professional Interior Designers, we don’t coerce clients into choosing a single, pre-made solution, instead we tailor make each design specifically to meet the clients’ individual needs, and this includes sustainable materials best suited to each client’s lifestyle.
Sustainability is defined as a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment, so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also in the indefinite future. Not being psychic, it’s impossible to predict what the needs of the future may be. Bringing it closer, many of us think in terms of borrowing the earth from our children, but we need to think beyond our lifetime. One philosophy I quite like is adopted from the First Nations; a commitment to the seventh generation, or approximately 150 years in the future. This is a more effective time frame to think of sustainability. But we need to balance this philosophy with the fundamental tenet of sustainability – starting by meeting human needs right now.
Looking at our living and working environments, they are spaces where we eat, sleep, work, meet, spend time with family, clients, house possessions, maintain our lives. How we use these spaces is as unique as ourselves; a home or workspace might be a showcase, or a refuge. How do we create an interior environment we enjoy, worthy of the time, materials and money required to create it, plus have a lighter impact on our earth and resources?
New products and technologies are constantly evolving with demand and as registered professional Interior Designers, we research and update our resource libraries daily. Tell us at the beginning of your project if you are passionate about implementing sustainable design principles in your home or office project. By understanding your needs and wants, together with our knowledge of the use of certified green materials, we can create a unique, balanced interior environment, which meets your expectations and coexists seamlessly with nature.
Designsmith Interior Design Inc. 