Applying a bit of know-how to the issue of sustainable office design
Sustainable office design is a constantly evolving, complex, and, at times, contested subject. It has shifted from a narrow focus to a broader, holistic framework embracing environmental, social, and economic issues – and now further to include governance. Collaboration is critically important – combining knowledge can ensure that environmental goals align with social metrics leading to more comprehensive, high-performance, and adaptable, human-centric spaces. Now in its fourth year, the Sustainable Design Forum returns on 23 April at Crypt on the Green in Clerkenwell, London. Hosted by the SDC – the Sustainable Design Collective, the day is not a trade show or conference. It is specifically focussed on collaboration and knowledge sharing to provide an opportunity for all members of the workplace and hospitality design community to build connections and understanding.
Formed in January 2022, the SDC is a voluntary ‘think tank’ group of over 30 architects, designers and specifiers who meet bi-monthly to debate key topics. Asif Din, Director of Regenerative Design at global practice, Perkins & Will and Ana Rita Martins, Sustainability Lead at interior design and workplace strategy experts, MCM, are both original members of the group.
Asif explains his motivation for membership: “The industry is in a degraded state, and I am not arrogant to believe that I have all the answers! I believe that as designers we collectively must come up with solutions not for our individual firms but as an industry collectively. SDC is a place I can learn of the pioneering work that others have done and what lessons they have learnt.”
“I have been a long-time member of this collective because I truly feel it has been pushing boundaries within the sustainability workplace fitout space,” explains Ana Rita Martins. “What makes it particularly powerful is that members don’t operate in a silo. Instead, it brings together a joint effort to change systems thinking from different ESG perspectives. The various sustainability experts from SDC contribute meaningful insights that help push our industry to become more sustainable for both the environment and people.”
The annual Forum is the result of SDC’s discussions during its regular meetings. Co-ordinated by SDC co-founders, Harsha Kotak and myself, the Forum is not a marketing opportunity but a day for manufacturers, suppliers, occupiers, architects, designers and specifiers to come together to learn from each other. It is focussed less on theory but more on action and honest conversations.
“The day will include panel discussions, presentations, workshops and educational displays,” explains Harsha Kotak, international workplace designer and a member of the Design Council’s Board of Experts. “We will also be including the highly popular ‘round table’ sessions providing the opportunity for interactive discussions with SDC members.”
The dedicated ‘information space’ will include innovative material samples and displays. M Moser & Associates will showcase their ‘Living Lab’ project. A global initiative, the Living Labs are spaces where new ideas are tested and trialled to progress sustainable workplace developments.
Supported by Interior Designers Declare (IDD), the Fire Regulations ‘explainer’ will help designers appreciate the importance of understanding the requirements to minimise FR chemicals whilst meeting compliance regulations.
Elements from the Circular Hub will also be featured. Originally designed for the Workplace Design Show, the Hub was conceived by MCM Architecture and Future Works (the innovation venture of The Furniture Practice), in partnership with Nested Living, a regenerative design studio.
Acknowledging that exhibitions are temporary and often wasteful, the collaboration wanted to create a design that could be dismantled and reused. Conceptualised by Ana Rita Martins, the Hub explores circularity across products and typologies. Materials were traced from raw to refined, with natural and synthetic options shown side by side to reveal different circular pathways.
“We are grateful for our many sponsors and industry partners who enable SDC to host the Forum. We know that designers, particularly younger colleagues, appreciate the opportunity to gain practical knowledge and understanding. We also encourage occupiers, workplace strategists and facilities managers to attend to appreciate the application of sustainable design approaches within their own disciplines,” continues Harsha Kotak. “The industry needs a cultural shift – fit-outs are generally hugely wasteful because they’re driven by short leases, branding cycles, and speed. Interiors should be recognised as infrastructure, not decoration, so we need to rethink contracts, construction, materials, and culture. The skeleton of a space, floors, ceilings, partitions, should be designed for 20+ years of evolution, not a five-year refresh cycle. This needs a bigger mid-set shift.”
The all-day agenda will cover a wide range of ‘people and planet’ topics such as material health, understanding supply chains, reuse and digital product passports.
SDC member, Jane Goodman from iDEA summarises the SDC ambitions. “SDC brings together the sustainability thought leaders from a number of high profile commercial practices to share ideas, review blockers and discuss the best route forward to action sustainability outcomes in the architectural design industry. I always endeavour to make these meetings as they are always fun, interesting and full of insight.
With an industry full of greenwash, it has been refreshing to delve deep with the SDC group to dispel myths and discuss what really matters to make our spaces greener and more sustainable for all.”
Looking forward to this year’s Forum, Ana Rita Martins commented: “The Forum is an incredible way to bring together our past sustainability work and discussions, while welcoming questions and creating new synergies in the room. It provides a valuable opportunity to share knowledge between design and the supply chain. The different formats presented during the day will make it a very insightful event, relevant for people across different roles and levels of experience, from junior to senior positions.”
“It’s a collective harvesting session of things that we want to communicate to others,” continues Asif Din. “This includes suppliers and new entrants into the industry creating a dialogue from other perspectives that otherwise designers do not think about. We are all students and all have something to learn.”
Tickets for the Forum are available free of charge for designers, specifiers and occupiers: https://thesustainabledesigncollective.co.uk/forum/
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