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Interiorscapes - A Step Forward
By:
Nandini Mukherjee
Today, the
role of design professionals is infinitely more complex. Economic, social and
political forces have changed the way we live and work. Social research states
that we spend over 90% of our lives indoors; either at the workplace or at
home. That makes the indoor environment an extremely important factor in the
quality of our lives and one which requires close scrutiny and sensitive
planning.
Modern
technology has brought with it innumerable advances and breakthroughs that have
undoubtedly improved the quality of our lives. Concurrent to this technological
advancement, however, is the growing awareness that as we innovate, we also
foul the natural world that created and sustained us. Most of the machines,
methods and materials used by us today have been developed with little or no
regard for their impact on the environment-particularly the micro-environments
we create indoors. Indoor pollution is one of the more serious consequences,
and it is only now that we’re gradually becoming aware of it’s environmental
impacts. Interior designers are central to this dilemma, for each project they
shape the conditions within which generations of people will live and work.
Interior landscaping or interiorscaping is a specialized field in which plants
are carefully selected to create healthy and beautiful environments. To examine
in detail the need for interiorscaping, we have to understand the impact of
indoor air pollution on our daily lives and the role of plants in
counterbalancing its effects.
Until the
earlier part of the century, materials used for construction and decor were
naturally occurring products like wood, plaster, bricks, stone, ceramics and
steel. Then chemical manufacturers developed and introduced the plastics for
furnishings and construction. No one could have foreseen the impact these
synthetic products would have on our lives. VOCs (volatile organic
compounds), gaseous by-products of synthetic materials, pollute the air we
breathe and are toxic to our systems. Our unconscious exposure to them in low
concentrations, continuously and over a period of time causes toxins to
accumulate in our bodies and interfere with immune functions and normal
metabolism. The cases which are highlighted are those involving acute exposure,
like
Sick
Building Syndrome and Building Related Illnesses.
These
situations get most of the attention; though they represent just part of the
complex indoor air quality problems - probably the minor part; for long-term
chronic exposure is the most insiduous and potentially damaging. A broad range
of health problems from chronic headaches to cancer and other degenerative
diseases, birth and
genetic
defects, and allergic and emotional disorders are the result of air pollution
in it’s various forms.
The sources
of indoor toxins are not exotic or rare. They are, infact, everyday materials
like carpeting, high-pressure laminates (formica-type products), paints, wall
papers, furniture finishes, fabric dyes, cleaning chemicals, artificial plants,
copy machine solvents, air freshners, ……… the list is endless. Evidence of
products releasing toxins into the surrounding environment can sometimes be
seen in carpet sections located in close proximity to mica furniture for long
periods. When the furniture is finally removed, a unique discolouration can
be seen around the junction where furniture met carpet, different in colour or
shade from any fading the rest of the carpet might exhibit. Mica furniture
is made of formaldehyde compounds (hence the name FORM-ica) which can attack
and destroy organic dyes. Highly toxic to humans, these compounds can cause
nausea, respiratory problems and cancer.
Having
explored the impact of indoor air pollution on our systems, we realise the
urgency of finding a remedy for this problem. Though one solution could be
removal of pollution sources; which is not practical for immediate
implementation. This is where the role of plants come into the picture. A
simplified version of the plant filter system which can be used at residences,
it incorporates an exhaust fan which circulates air through the planter system.
Activated
carbon is used as a part of the growing media to adsorb gaseous molecules to be
acted on by the leaves and root/microbial components. The self-contained
exhaust system draws stale air through the planter at an accelerated rate,
greatly speeding up the purification process. Cleaner air is returned to the
room environment. In case of offices and commercial interiors, it would be
beneficial to use a group of plants placed together in planter boxes. The
working of the planter system is the same as that of the single plant filter
system. As a thumb rule, atleast one tropical foliage plant should be used for
every 10 square metres of room area.
Some plants
that are recommended for ‘Indoor Air Pollution Abatement’ are Azalea,
Philodendron and Boston Fern (for formaldehyde), Green spider plant
(formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, benzene), Chrysanthemum (formaldehyde benzene,
trichloroethylene), Gerbera, Daisy (benzene, trichloroethylene) and Orchids
(formaldehyde, methyl alcohol, xylene, ammonia).
Although much of the research on
the causes and effects of indoor air pollution is incomplete - for science has
only a moderate grasp of the problems and solutions, and much more is yet to be
learned - designers must take advantage of the information currently available
and incorporate the knowledge into designing healthier interiors.
Ms. Nandini Mukherjee is a practising architect and an
environmental activist at 70, Rajendra Nagar, Sakchi, Jamshedpur 831 001
(India). |
