Interior Design

The art of managing spatial environment aka interior design refers to the process by which the interiors of built environments are designed to address all aspects of the human use of their structural spaces. Interior spaces have contributed to constant functions of feeling secure and protected for centuries. Gradually with our evolution and that of our needs - indoors have become a vital aspect of today’s society. More than 70% of our lives are inside a built space, be it through changing homes, changing jobs, going for a vacation or just visiting a cafe. 

Interior design gives architecture and designs a chance to explore themselves on a personal level. Within the walls of our homes and public settings, there exist spaces and inner corners which can influence our thought processes, behavior and overall mental well-being. 

Thus the discipline encompasses all architectural typologies and includes furniture, product and other micro design fields within itself. These factors/design streams contribute to the inside spaces just like the outside giving the design project a holistic approach to the well-being of the occupants as well as the surroundings. 

Img 1: The Jungle - People’s choice award for “Jack and Giant Hotel’

Evolution of interior design

In the past, interiors were put together instinctively as a part of the process of building. Professionalism and intellectualism clashed in this profession, which required a diverse range of knowledge depending on whether an interior was being designed for a restaurant, office space or home. In the post-World War II era, however, interest and market for interior design services opened up as families looked for new ways to define their lifestyles.

Img 2: Illustrated catalogue of the James Shoolbred Company, published in 1876

From the 1950s onwards, due to factors of wanting to shelter and settle down after the war, spending on the home increased. Interior design courses were established; previously seen as playing a secondary role to architecture, interior design gradually established itself as singularly important in its own rite. 

Today, interior design is seen as an art and science with which one enhances the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and cleaner environment for people using the space. It has rightfully established its place as an essential service in every corner of the world. It deals more widely with how users currently interact with spaces throughout all kinds of practices-from having an espresso in a local café near a railway station to being able to work alongside others in an open environment.

Why is designing interior environments so important? 

Although many might not think that interior design has made a huge difference in their life, the truth is that it has likely impacted millions of people across the globe. From an unusually delightful time spent at a friend's house to a store, one can never get enough of returning to time and time again — design has the power to influence spaces in such a way as to create stronger feelings and amplify experiences during moments within them. In addition, it helps uplift our spirits and helps in effectively optimizing spaces in our homes, thus, producing the best use of the available space. Here's why interior design is an essential part of our lives:

• Improves Space and functionality:  Design improves a space by making it better suited to its purpose. Functional beauty is a core concept of modern interior design. Designers equip rooms with the most advanced technologies so that convenience is maintained
• Enhances Aesthetic Quality: Interior design has the ability to transform an ordinary-looking place into something aesthetically warm & pleasant through color theory or designing efficiently for the space and its users. 
• Maximizes Free Spaces: A great design will be tailored to the exact lifestyle and your needs. It eliminates the aspect of unwanted congestion, which is typical in poorly designed houses.
• Improves ergonomics: Interior design enables efficient planning and transforming space for the physiological and psychological well being universally/personally. 

Lastly, interior designers interact intensely with their clients to realize what they truly aspire to and accordingly customize designs to suit their needs. Interior design caters to a wide range of sectors that are important for a city/region to thrive.

Img 3: Building typologies of interior design 

The role of an interior designer is to create beauty, comfort, and functionality by blending space, light, color, materials, and furniture - all while keeping clients' requests and constraints in mind. But as the pandemic containment measures prioritize goods and services deemed essential for society, the function has greatly shifted to accommodate preventive measures in closed spaces.  The importance of interior spaces not only in our homes but also in other building typologies has reached a different degree of urgency. In such scenarios, How will the basics of designing spaces change? With changing times, how will interior design and the need for it evolve? While principles and norms are ever-changing, how will relevant structures in our everyday lives adapt to societal conditions? 

Architecture competitions 

Architecture contests have a long history, dating back over 2,500 years. Several cathedrals throughout the Middle Ages, as well as the Acropolis in Athens, were built as a result of design competitions around 448 B.C. Many of the Church's efforts during the Renaissance were decided through design competitions in which all kinds of artists brought their varied talents to build up to something grand in every sense of the word. In recent times an architectural competition form has taken on many forms. One form is a design challenge in which a company or the government planning to build a new structure invites architects to submit designs and plans.

Interior design is one of the most powerful disciplines, design competitions bring the best of it. Creating scenarios/themes for plausible futures/present times through facts and research helps to determine and seek ideas for interior spaces on various fronts.  In interiors, designs are a great way to find creative design enthusiasts who not only have the relevant skills for designing and developing projects but who also share their vision regarding the problems affecting our society today. Architectural and design competitions offer a wide array of challenges that have the potential to be utilized in built projects. Few competitions held recently are: 

Dwell one

Nano Nest 2.0

A'DESIGN AWARD & COMPETITION

Tiny House Community

Img 4: Seorang-Bersama: Winner for Dwell One

Nano Nest

Brewed

Brewed-Bali

Regen Dining

Img 5: 'There is a hole in the market' Shortlisted entry for Nano Nest 

Arch-de-villa

NomadHouse

Down the rabbit hole

Jack and the Giant Hotel

Img 6: NOMADHOUSE -  Editor’s Choice for Architecture of the Apocalypse

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UNI is a global network of architects and designers who are solving some of the most challenging problems around the globe. UNI brings together the world's largest pool of design challenges that are curated by the finest architecture academicians and professionals globally. Since 2017, UNI has hosted more than 200+ architecture competitions for various idea level to realization level briefs. In the past, UNI has helped 50+ organizations, universities, and government bodies to use our platform to generate architecture and design solutions through competitions.

Discover other competitions: https://uni.xyz/competitions