Home is where the heart is, and our earth is our main home, but corporations often forget it. We as designers can do some gentle nudging towards green materials and earth-friendly products but ultimately the consumer will always have the last word. In this article, we can explore many options we as designers and consumers can choose to give us some say in how companies can identify trends going forward, from the bottom up driven by consumer demand, with a conscious eye to the future of our planet and that of our children. In comes a new trend Biophilic design, think of the Gardens of Babylon for some historical examples, already a 2021 top design trend. Biophilic design is a concept that embraces the “connection to the source” and the health and environmental good that comes from these choices. Biophilia means a love of nature and, all things alive, they can be incorporated into your home by all things alive such as plants and our beloved pets but also by innate materials such as natural fibres, stone and lots of natural wood, by using low VOC paints in colours resembling those found in nature, after the pandemic we all crave to bring nature closer to us. Paintings of landscapes as well as larger windows to let in more natural light looking onto a small garden which grow our own vegetables and community gardens on building’s rooftops for us city dwellers.
We in design have seen many changes from rigid and linear lines, towards more natural shapes for kitchen counters and bathrooms as well as furniture. The centre of the home is our kitchen, which now mostly is designed to face your guest so you can cook and entertain while still engaging with your loved ones, in a more open space. Lately, design trends are leaning more towards volumetric and softly curved shapes found in nature, new technologies such as the new Bora ovens www.Boraovens.com have charcoal filters so you can cook in confine spaces without worrying about lasting odours, appliances are more energy-efficient and connected to Smart home design which allows you to control your home’s temperature and airflow as well as track your power usage on your smartphone. Green cleaning solutions and biodegradable packaging are also in demand as the consumer becomes more aware, you can follow life without plastics on Instagram for a great resource and great ideas such as using mason jars to store dry bulk foods which can be purchased at most organic health food stores and then using those same jars to decorate your shelves in your pantry of kitchen shelves. For great ideas and inspiration on this new trend check out Pinterest Biophilic design ideas. Note: Olga is one of my best friends who kindly offered to do this column even though she does not have our 'thing' we went to lunch and she walked out doing a column!
| AUGUS T 202 1 • HOL A SOB E R |
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