In 2022 Pfeiffer Design won the inaugural Anna Whitehead Prize for their project, the Design Studio, Chapel Barn. The judges recognised this project as a superb example of a reuse scheme that makes a feature of its former life through not hiding away its original structure. It displayed great use of retrofit of sustainable technologies including rainwater harvesting, maximizing air tightness and insulation to enable the use of heat pumps in the retrofit. The project used a varied use of finishes to create different moods suitable to the interior design of the different environments within the project, whilst being mindful of a local supply chains for supply and installation. The project is a great example of how interior designers can successfully integrate sustainability at the centre of their design schemes.
The BIID has a well-established sustainability committee, which has developed our Sustainability Strategy, to help provide guidance to our members and the wider interior design community. We have produced an in depth tool kit – The BIID Sustainable Specifying Guide – which is designed to provide interior designers with a broad knowledge of the sustainability issues associated with specifying products, materials and technologies.
As interior designers, we can have a direct influence on our clients, bringing sustainable solutions to the table. By explaining the importance of sustainability at the outset of a project, interior designers can help their clients decide upon their project goals and take them on a journey to understanding why ‘health is wealth’, and empower them to see how they are able to make a tangible difference in the future of our planet.