Eminence of Material Understanding in Design

March 17, 2021

Abstract
The world is alarmed with the climate change emergency and its consequences on the quality of life. The concern of its effect on the coming generations is also rising. The external change is attributed to the environmental imbalance, while the internal environment has other parameters with equal concerns for a healthy environment within the closed walls. Internal environment can be described as an enclosure of a building that captures its volume. Interior is related to psychologically being in that space. In addition to the spatial design of the space, supportive tangible elements such as color, texture and material play their respective roles in giving an experiential feeling. The article tries to take a focused look into the use of material in interior space. In influential context of the quote— ‘role of material palette is to execute safe, healthy, productive and enjoyable environments’ stated by NCIDQ. (National Council for Interior Design Qualification). The study supports physical incidences, where the use of material may have been a concern, for a larger gamut of disaster.

The paper tries to understand material as a culture, identity and not merely a denotation of technological context only. Vernacular designs are tailored by local material, which is geologically available. The materials can be put as resources to get new material. But, in the process, there are chemicals used to transform into making it ‘new’ material. This might be one of the reasons for ‘Sick Building Syndrome’ (SBS), a medical condition where people in a building suffer from symptoms of illness or feel unwell for no apparent reason; as defined by the WHO. (World Health Organization)^[1]

The conclusion- make ‘material thinking’ an essential part of design after extruding its physical and chemical properties, before its application, as it affects human beings within the space.

[1]Sick building syndrome [Journal] / auth. Europe World Health Organization Regional Office for // Textos Competos

The full paper has been published in:
International Journal of Architecture (IJA) Volume 6, Issue 2, July-December 2020, pp. 19–27, Article ID: IJA_06_02_003 Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJA/issues.asp?JType=IJA&VType=6&IType=2 ©IAEME Publication Scope Database Indexed

Author:
Kishori Dalwadi, Assistant Director, School of Interior & Furniture Design, Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID)

Disclaimer: The opinions / views expressed in this article are solely of the author in his / her individual capacity. They do not purport to reflect the opinions and/or views of the College and/or University or its members.