Interior design as a post-disaster team partner

Abstract

Purpose This purpose of this paper is to promote the potential for utilizing interior designers as partners on multidisciplinary teams that deal with natural disaster recovery efforts. Interior design, an often-misunderstood profession, focuses on the health, safety and welfare of all who utilize interior spaces. Members of this profession bring a unique and relevant perspective to design and problem-solving. Design/methodology/approach A self-selecting international student design call supplied the data for illustrating how interior designers’ training prepares these multifaceted professionals to practice within diverse cultural contexts to create region-specific temporary housing units. Findings The designs submitted indeed, demonstrated an understanding of the holistic process necessary for creating effective temporary shelters. Research limitations/implications A limitation of the research is that the design call involved interior design students only. A broader invitation might also solicit entries from practicing interior design professionals. Originality/value The acknowledgement traditionally accorded interior designers as essential contributors to multidisciplinary disaster relief teams is tenuous at best. This paper suggests that interior designers have the potential to assume an important role in disaster relief planning and shelter creation. Attention must now be directed toward promoting a universal appreciation of the relevant skills training, and holistic perspectives of interior designers.

An analysis of the insertion of sustainability elements in undergraduate design courses offered by Brazilian higher education institutions: An exploratory study

“…According to this gap in the literature, the results presented here can greatly contribute to the enhancement of these debates. Moreover, the training of design professionals in sustainability has gained considerable attention recently (Boehm and Kopec, 2016).…”

Non-Reinforced Foam Filled Modules for Rapidly Assembled Post Disaster Housing

“…Nevertheless, showing some good level of structural strength and durability, these foams have a great potential to be widely used in structural engineering. Fig.1 Distribution of costs for usually poured structures [27] Structural studies on post-disaster housing are mostly limited to some post-disaster shelter design, architectural guidelines or Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) models for selecting the PDH systems [28][29][30][31][32][33][34]. In some research study, new temporary housing planning framework is proposed to offer customized housing plans tailored to the specific social, economic, and psychological needs of displaced families while controlling expenditures [35,36].…”

Back to Basics: Rethinking The Way We Design Post-Disaster Homes

“…Recognising the importance of protection, security, and safety, which uphold individuals' dignity and provide a sense of safety, is crucial (Biswas, 2019;Corsellis & Vitale, 2005;Félix et al, 2013). Privacy and structural elements contribute to protection, while security is enhanced through controlled entry points and secure, lockable storage (Boehm & Kopec, 2016).…”

“…Designing with these aspects in mind is crucial for the community's well-being. Spaces for gathering, socialising, working, playing, and other infrastructure that fosters a sense of normality are beneficial (Boehm & Kopec, 2016). Shared experiences strengthen bonds, and preserving family relationships and friendships contributes to community cohesion.…”