Abstract
This chapter mainly focuses on the influences of material as an input within different stages of design and production in the context of different dimensions that define the relations between user and environment. Properties of the material require discussion on different issues from the urban scale to the interior in a wide perspective such as the dialogue established by the interior and the urban space, psychological and social factors, sensation, temporality, mobility, portability, flexibility, sustainability, strength, durability, and economy. In this context, the topic is discussed through examples of the studies and experiences of the Interior Architectural Design Studio. Within the studio, sheltering alternatives for the homeless have been designed in Istanbul. The main intention is to discuss and question the possibilities of enabling the homeless to be socially integrated into the city and to provide them practical sheltering with using a single material. The limitations of the material increased the challenge while resulting in varied alternatives.
TopIntroduction
Similar to other design disciplines, the use of materials and making use of the different properties of materials are important determinants in terms of the essence of design and interaction of the product with user in the interior architecture discipline. Therefore, it is significant to consider the material and its determinant properties throughout the process starting from the design phase to the application. Considering that living environments that are composed of interior spaces and their components have strong interactions with the users and directly affect their daily lives, it is possible to say that the materials have effect not only on physical, but also social, psychological and cultural interactions in the context of the relationship between user and space in various ways.
In scope of this chapter, discussions are made on which and how different issues could be decisive in design and practice in interior architecture regarding the use of a single material and how varied design ideas from different perspectives could be generated based on the interior architecture studio experiences. In this study, with the term “limited material”, it is expressed to use a single and common material for producing a shelter in the project studio. During the studio process, it was stated that the selected material could not be changed and any additional materials could not be used in the design of the products. In this sense, the study provided potentials of working deeply with the selected material and eventually generating creative solutions for the students.
The chapter aims to present design alternatives for the homeless in Istanbul by using a single material, and the process of generating design ideas within the project studio that strives to ensure social improvement together with urban, social and socio-psychological components, and to reach an outcome by discussing these topics from the beginning of the design process to the final stage. Therefore, in addition to the properties of the material, issues that are crucial in scope of human-society-environment interaction such as sheltering, belonging, attachment, privacy, social integration and interaction have been important determinants of studio discussions and design scenarios. Furthermore, interior design practices within the urban space, potential interactions between urban space and interior space, and practice-generation of ideas on how to discuss the physical, social and socio-psychological dimensions are taken into consideration in the design process. Hence, the limitation in the use of materials has actually enabled a rich process to be experienced, which different issues of the design process of both application and usage phases could be discussed.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Shelter: A place giving temporary protection.
Homeless: A person without a home, and therefore typically living on the streets.
Honeycomb Panels: Structural materials which are commonly made by layering honeycombs.
Environmental Analysis: One of the stages in interior architectural design process in which the project site is identified and analyzed with all its dimensions.
Project Development: One of the stages in interior architectural design process in which detailed technical drawings, 3D visuals, physical models, etc. are made.
Design Development: One of the stages in interior architectural design process in which concept, content and spatial design proposals are developed.
Scenario: A written outline of the design which presents details of the usage and experiences related with the spatial decisions within the proposed project.
Single Material: Using only one material for producing a structure.