Design report
Adaptability, circularity and the unlikely marriage of biomaterials and tech: leaders in their field talk the innovations that will help make our homes fit for the long term
FEATURE RODDY CLARKE
CREATE A HEALTHIER HOME
Purva Chawla, materials expert and co-founder of MaterialDriven, on creating an enhanced sensory interior
The connection between food p roductionandinterior design is growing closer as designers embrace materials made from food by-products and waste. From apple skins to coffee grounds and coconut husk, commercially viable products such as tiles, flooring, composite boards and upholstery will only grow in popularity as innovation continues and our need for circularity increases. Besides tackling the challenge of waste, these materials bring a distinct aesthetic to a space with a unique narrative behind them.
Incorporating subtle technologies that allow the interior environment to be as natural and harmonious as possible is a growing trend, bringing all the effects and benefits of advanced technology but with a near-invisible appearance. For example, Halia™, by The Warming Surfaces Company, is a hidden, radiant warming system that turns almost any interior facade into an effective smart warming surface. Technology that encourages seamless finishing, and the removal of non-toxic ingredients, will only increase in popularity as we emerge from the pandemic and better prepare ourselves for future public health crises.
Our connection to nature will continue to develop as we look at the recent growth of materials such as flax, hemp and mycelium – the latter seen in the foam-like, sound-absorbing modules of Mogu’s Acoustic collection, for example. Not only will we unearth more materials, but we may also find more applications for those already in production. Organisations such as Vermont Wildwoods, which specialises in spalted wood flooring (beautifully patterned by fungi), are helping to showcase the breadth of options.
3D-printed homes are a f a s tdeveloping trend, as seen in the recent launch of The Genesis Collection – a 100-home community in Georgetown, Texas, of 3D-printed homes by Lennar and ICON and co-designed by Bjarke Ingels Group. Beyond the structure itself, the textured finish of 3D-printed walls presents a new interior design aesthetic while the opportunities for unique scale and undulating curves offer fresh possibilities thanks to largeformat printing technology.
Decisions will be tackled with a carbon-led approach as we continue to shrink our impact on the natural wo
