Is Sustainable Design achievable? There are so many designers out there creating spaces which are not only just beautiful but also sustainable and regenerative. We speak with Chloe Bullock, a renowned interior designer; through her company Materialise Interiors she helps clients who want a more consciously sourced and specified interior with sustainability and human-centred design at its heart. She is a founding signatory of “Interior Design Declares” which is a body that exists for people working in the interior design industry and its supply chains to strengthen working practices and the design of spaces that have a more positive impact on the world around us.

Chloe’s early career included 10 years working with Anita Roddick at the body shop during which time she developed the strong commitment to ethical business and sustainable design that drives the work of Materialise Interiors. Her designs focus on compassionate design, the use of healthy materials, ease of repair and the use of regenerative design principles.

We talk about many things, including her NEW BOOK Sustainable Interior Design. Listening to her speak, it’s clear why she is a popular panellist/commentator and regularly has articles in the press. In this insightful podcast Chloe explains how her principles drive her work and how important Biophilic Design is to her.

From her early days with the Body Shop and through the period of its early success, she saw how exciting it was to learn about transparency, material health and sustainability as she it became a global brand.

Experience she cites as being invaluable in defining her interior design career…. Listen to the podcast and read on.

BIID Interior Design Award Winners - From Chapel Barn to Riverside

The British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) is the only professional institute for interior designers in the UK. Our growing membership represents both the commercial and residential sectors, from heritage to cutting edge. In addition to rigorous entry requirements which assess training, experience and professionalism, they require our members to continue their professional development throughout their career to ensure their continued expertise in design process, practice and regulatory matters.

For those wishing to find an interior designer or to confirm the credibility of a potential interior designer they offer a directory of our Registered Interior Designers.

Each year BIID celebrates the very best of British interior design through its awards program. The BIID Interior Design Awards showcase the best interior design projects completed across the UK.

Winners are awarded across 7 regional categories ranging from the largest commercial project to the smallest residential dwelling. In addition, there are two landmark prices – the Interior of the Year Prize, which is awarded to the best interior design project in the UK and the Anna Whitehead Prize, which is awarded to the best achievement in sustainable interior design. 9 awards will be given out in total, along with acknowledgements of Highly Commended projects.

In this podcast, we are joined by two previous award winners and one of the judges of this year’s awards to discuss the value of the awards programme. Throughout the discussion it is clear that just adding sustainable materials to a design doesn’t make the overall design sustainable. Consideration has to be given to materials being appropriate for the design; the design can’t simply include “box-ticking” elements.

The participants are all clear that a sustainable design doesn’t involve a compromise on aesthetics. Indeed, taking a biophilic approach to design can enhance the look and feel of a space and contribute to a deeper, more meaningful aesthetic that resonates with the principles of balance with nature.

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