Senior members of Sharjah Girl Guides (SGG) have gained a deeper understanding of environmentally responsible interior design principles as they learnt how to choose materials and products with the lowest environmental impact at a virtual design workshop held recently.
Working with a ‘Green Home Box’ that included a collection of sample materials required to design a room and colour palette of their choice, Senior Guides, aged 15-25, received a crash course on the benefits of green design concepts at the ‘Principles of Sustainable Design’ workshop led by Naima Aziz Khan, a Sustainable Interior Design Consultant and CEO, The Green Home.
A holistic approach viewed through the prism of environmental considerations, and which does not compromise on aesthetics and function, are key elements to consider when designing the interior of a sustainable home, said Naima Khan. When planning efficient use of space, she urged the participants to choose materials with low environmental impacts to reduce energy consumption, pollution, and waste.
The ‘Green Home Box’ that each participant received contained a design mesh to create a mood board with a collage of images and materials to visually represent their inspirational ideas. Each box also contained a colour wheel to guide participants in choosing a harmonious colour scheme; carpet samples in neutrals and natural colours; textured, plain and metallic wall paper; fabrics in various sustainable materials; paper for sketching or drawing; a paint card to create colour schemes for the wall; recycled wood pieces; a natural and sustainable resin décor artefact; and a tool kit comprising basic essentials such as measuring tape, double-sided tape, scissors, pencils, and paper clips.
The broad range of topics addressed during the workshop included space planning and room measurements, learning how to use the colour wheel to use therapeutic or contrasting colour schemes, energy efficient strategies including the use of natural light, harnessing passive design elements to achieve comfortable temperatures and good indoor air quality, the use of sustainable materials and finishes, and the importance of a proper waste management plan.
Apart from designing a room based on the leading principles of sustainability, Senior Guides also learnt the value of looking for every opportunity to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste in the design process.