Human Response and Interior Design

After learning about the different case studies and examples of social justice design, I was inspired to want to improve society and change the world through design.  But I admit, I still had questions about how we as students could really get involved in social justice and design activism.  So I began to look on a smaller scale and came across a project that seems really small, but has made a huge difference in many African communities: The Q Drum – the rollable water container for developing  countries, although the website now lists other uses as well.

Deisgned by Piet Hendriske, the drum is a plastic donut shaped container that can hold up to 50 liters of water.   The idea originated in response to the needs of rural people in South Africa who struggle with transporting potable water from a given source back to their residence- a task that is generally given to women and children in the communities.  The Q drum has reduced the number of neck and spine injuries and increased the amount of water that can be gathered and transported at one time. 

Unique features of the design:

• the central hole, that a rope/strap can be tied through to pull and roll the drum along any terrain. 
• no handles or other metal attachments to worry about breaking off and causing the container to be less effective.
• can be stacked up to 40 containers high, because of the remaining flat sides and the central core  adding extra structural support.

Of course, I think we can agree that the more long term solution for improvement would involve working to get more water sources in these countries to increase access.  However, this short term solution addresses the issues of “today”, without relying on a change for the “tomorrow”.  The one concern I have is in regard to the material, because even the most durable plastics are not designed for major, long-term use.

With products like this, you really get to see how innovative this field of design is- and I believe it has to be.  As Architecture for Humanity co-founder Cameron Sinclair stated, many of the people you are designing for with these projects don’t have the finances to support energy-consuming buildings and high maintenance materials.  Sustainability really becomes a focus because the spaces will have to last for years/ generations to come without much necessary upkeep.

Images from Q-Drum. 

Masdar city located in Abo Dabi is the first sustainable city that aim to have zero Carbon and zero waste by recycling and reusing. Their strategy is to make the entire city depends in its power on the energy derived from the sun, wind and other sustainable sources. The city is seeking to be great example of sustainable living in all the aspects of life residential, commercial, and retail. The city has its own electronics transportation system (environment friendly) which consist of cars that works with electricity, also they prevent the traditional cars to enter the city to keep the environment free of Carbon and save clean air. The design of the city took its inspiration from the traditional Arabic design and architecture.

Talking about their experience they said “from our experience planning, designing, developing and operating a sustainable city, achieved by deploying the latest commercially viable technologies, and integrating them in systems that deliver further cost and resource savings – we know how to deliver sustainability in a way that makes sense financially.
Creating any sustainable urban development or re-development requires a unique focus across all areas of design, development and operation. Five of the most important are: planning and design, power, water, transport and supply chain” (masdarcity.ae)

Interesting Video about the city:

https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=FyghLnbp20U

To know more about it visit:

http://masdarcity.ae/en/30/sustainability-and-the-city/

It’s a new covering that made by wood in innovative way to Make the wood more flexible than usual and can move like skin. It was created to add new features to straight surfaces that was made in standard materials.

It’s interesting to see new thinking by Milan design studio in using traditional material to create inventive “Wood skin”

They said about it “At that time we were looking for a solution that would fulfill our need to create complex shapes, every time different, based on a standard, but also ready to evolve in a smart, fluid, connecting system,” Masotti says. “What we created was a skin that would allow us to focus on the structure and would adapt to it, leaving the builder the total control with the flexibility to change the forms at any moment during the whole process.”

Read more about it:

http://www.wired.com/design/2013/04/woodskin/

As we look into sustainability, we must be aware of what is known as “Greenwashing – the cynical use of environmental themes to whitewash corporate misbehavior” Some businesses are genuinely committed to making the world a better, greener place. But for far too many others, environmentalism is only a selling point. “Buy our products and make the earth more beautiful!’. These statements stretch the truth and lead consumers to believe that they are truly helping a cause.

It is becoming more and more difficult to know what is really sustainable and what is not. I believe that as designers, it is our duty to educate our clients on what sustainability is and what really isn’t sustainable. To do this, we must educate ourselves on these products and take a stand.

How do you feel about greenwashing? Can you think of a company that you believe is greenwashing?

Link: http://www.stopgreenwash.org/introduction

A couple of weeks ago I went inside H&M in Atlantic Station and I remember I kept seeing signs up saying “Don’t Let Fashion Go To Waste”. I came to the conclusion that maybe H&M is trying to go green. I think it is a good idea that sustainability is coming into the retail world as well. This was not an easy road for H&M to go down. It took a long time for them to build up this sustainability brand image. Today, H&M practice uses organic cotton to make their clothes with a goal by 2020 to have all the cotton it uses to be sustainably produced.

Customers can enjoy benefits too of the sustainability approach at H&M. “Don’t Let Fashion Go To Waste” is a campaign by H&M promoting customers not to throw away their old garments. Instead they would like customers to bring in their old garments to be recycled. In return H&M will give you a voucher for 15% off a new purchase. H&M also practice saving water by using water saving methods in the production of their denim. Their goal also includes sourcing 100% of electricity from renewables and zero discharge of hazardous materials. By this year, H&M hopes to have 95% of the waste handled in their warehouse to be recycled.

H&M happens to be one of my favorite stores because the prices are so affordable and I can always find trendy clothes to wear. I think this is a great move by H&M and it could possibly put them ahead of other competitors.

Do you think this is a good approach?
Should other stores consider this approach?

Check out the article here!

After having a round table discussion in our last class on sustainability, most of us were surprised by the construction type in various parts of the world which is not suitable for the environment, and a major cause of global warming. I believe sustainability needs to take place equally in each part of the world. That is when we actually help environment in being more sustainable. There has to be a balanced and a collaborative work.

We all are aware of sustainable methods, but in various other countries, there is lack of knowledge and awareness. Other countries have copied the whole building design. even the materials, which are certainly not suitable for them, from various parts of the world. This immature act has cost a lot to the environment.

( I am using this word as I can relate people acting like kids, how they behave, they see other having a particular toy, even they want to have the same one without knowing the consequences or if its suitable for them)

Airports covers maximum building space. I have always been interested in public transportation areas, how it works, how they are mapped, and constructed. Achieving LEED points can be challenging for such large scale projects. San Francisco International Airport is the first airport to achieve LEED Gold certification, which definitely inspired me to learn more about what they incorporated. SFO is leading the way with one of the strongest airport environmental programs.

Solar Panels (SFO International Airport)

To read more about the sustainable programs in SFO click here: http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/about/T2/sustainability/

San Francisco International Airport2011 Environmental Sustainability Report: http://www.flysfo.com/downloads/reports/SFO_2011_Environmental_Sustainability_Report.pdf

For more interior Images click here: http://inhabitat.com/exclusive-photos-sfo-terminal-2-is-the-first-u-s-airport-to-achieve-leed-gold-certification/sfo-terminal-2-renovation-by-gensler-leed-gold-13/?extend=1

IMG solar panel : https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=592006997485487&set=pb.110504348969090.-2207520000.1368744093.&type=3&theater

Sustainability can be defined as the potential for long-term maintenance of well-being; which has many aspects referencing ecological, economic, political and cultural values. After reflecting on this past week I ask myself, as many other are asking themselves, what I can do in my everyday life to be more sustainable. Specifically what can I do to help the earth and myself? I started looking at task I do every day because I knew if I wanted to truly have an impact I wanted it to be a task I did often, not just every once in a while. Then it came to me! I eat! I eat when I wake up, before lunch, at lunch, after lunch, and at dinner. So this food I am eating, where is it coming from? Is it good for both myself and the environment?

Take a look at what 11 year-old Birke Baehr has to say about making a difference and about what you can to make a difference.
What's Wrong With Our Food System

Do you feel organic farming is truly helpful to the environment? What is your opinion on genetically modified crops? Do you feel stores should raise their standards and only carry organic products?

As mentioned cradle to cradle in our presentation, it is a concept that materials are recyclable over and over again. The term “upcycle” in the book, has popularized over recent years. The authors of Cradle to Cradle have just released their new book, Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability – Designing for Abundance, so I want to introduce the book. The Upcycle takes a concept that the process of turning waste materials into new products for better environmental value. This book focuses on how to better understand causation and incorporate that knowledge into pragmatic design. Pioneers of Cradle to Cradle say that everyone can enhance our environment through well-design. I have not read the book yet, but this book will obviously inspire all designers and be a good source to come up with or create something innovative for sustainability.

Image from: www.inhabitat.com