Thesis
Exploring the opportunities for qualitative considerations of sustainability in the interior environment
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2003
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/118
Abstract
The 21st century calls for a sustainable approach to design. It is the role and responsibility of the designer to provide an environment that is enduring for future generations. This requires integration of “state of the art technology” with age-old issues of “good design”. The current national standard for sustainable design is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a checklist of technical considerations. A building is deemed to be a particular “shade of green” depending on it’s compliance with matters such as energy efficiency and recycled materials. It is observed that this singular approach is deficient in bringing forth a truly sustainable environment. Qualitative issues must be addressed. This research asks the question from the perspective of an interior designer: What are the qualitative considerations specific to sustainable design in the built environment? The secondary question is how can one simultaneously consider technical and qualitative issues? The goal of the research is to develop a way for understanding qualitative issues that emerge from a holistic sustainable design approach. The current models of sustainable design are in agreement that aesthetics are vital to a successful sustainable approach. Yet there is no clearly developed framework for designers to understand aesthetic issues specific to sustainable design. This research builds such a framework by adapting George Santayana’s aesthetic theory to the built environment. Design research is methodology for this inquiry. It was an ongoing process in which there were four cycles. Each process consisted data collection, analysis, and ideation evolving around the existing literature to extract the key information. The new knowledge acquired from each cycle was transferred to the next cycle, therefore, the knowledge to answer the inquiry for this research expanded as the process was proceeded. Conclusions suggest that qualitative considerations of sustainability in the interior environment are symbolic. When qualitative issues and technical issues of sustainability are considered simultaneously as the strategies to achieve symbolic concepts of sustainability, design becomes resonant and holistic.
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Details
- Title
- Exploring the opportunities for qualitative considerations of sustainability in the interior environment
- Creators
- Naoko Barker
- Contributors
- Judy Theodorson (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525280301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis