Eco-design of net-zero carbon creative spaces

Innovation in Design for Sustainability

The intensification of ecological crises, resource scarcity, and social inequalities compels design to fundamentally redefine its role, methods, and criteria for innovation. This article argues that innovation in design can no longer be understood as the mere creation of new artifacts, but rather as the capacity to reconfigure systems of production, consumption, and disposal. Based on the widely recognized premise that the majority of the environmental impacts of products and services are determined during the design phase, the designer is repositioned as a strategic agent in the transition toward sustainable socio-economic models.Within this context, the article examines the synergistic articulation of four complementary approaches: Ecodesign, as an analytical foundation oriented toward life-cycle thinking; Circular Design, focused on redefining business models and material flows; Biodesign, which incorporates biological principles and processes; and Human-Centered Design (HCD), responsible for ensuring social, cultural, and ethical relevance. It is argued that the transdisciplinary integration of these approaches constitutes an emerging paradigm of systemic innovation in design, in which success is assessed according to interdependent environmental, social, and economic criteria, thereby demanding new professional competencies and expanded forms of collaboration.

Exploring the Use OF Flexible Spaces as A Tool for Sustainability in the Design OF Traditional Igbo Cultural Centers

The Aesthetics of Sustainability

This thesis investigates the application of a sustainable aesthetics framework within contemporary architectural practice in New Zealand. It argues that sustainable paradigms driven by environmental performance standards and technical metrics are insufficient for producing architecture that endures. At the same time, the commodification of architecture as visual spectacle often privileges novelty over longevity, reinforcing a divide between aesthetics, environmental performance, and value-driven design. In response, this research positions sustainability as a design philosophy that shapes form and aesthetics, rather than a predominance of environmental obligation. Through theoretical inquiry, systematic case study analysis, site- and programme-specific investigation, and iterative design-led testing, this thesis tests a sustainable aesthetics framework as an architectural design tool, situating aesthetic judgement at the centre of architectural longevity and value. The framework is structured around three interrelated principles: Conservation as design for efficiency, Connection as design for place, and Attraction as design for pleasure, grounded in the principles articulated in Lance Hosey’s, The Shape of Green. These principles are applied and tested through a proposed architectural development, which serves as the primary means of evaluating the framework in practice. The design demonstrates how the framework can be utilised as a tool to support more informed aesthetic decision-making and optimise sustainable architectural outcomes within commercially viable systems. The thesis concludes that sustainable aesthetics provides a practical method for aligning connection, experience, and context over time, enabling architects to deliver better outcomes that retain long-term value for users, clients, and place.

Representations of the Commodification of the Carbon Market through Cartoon Art Using a Visual Metaphor Approach

The global climate crisis phenomenon has driven the transformation of the ecological function of forests into economic commodities through a carbon exchange mechanism that presents a paradoxical condition between nature conservation efforts and the demands of polluting industrial growth within the framework of sustainable development..  This study aims to analyze the representation of carbon trading as commodification through a visual metaphorical approach in caricature works. Methodologically, this study is an artistic research project that adopts the Art Consortium’s creation model through five systematic stages: preparation, elaboration, synthesis, concept realization, and evaluation. This creative process produces works that represent the commodification of the carbon market through visual metaphors. The analysis reveals that the use of visual metaphors simplifies the complex narrative of the green economy into provocative visual messages. The discussion highlights how each visual element functions as a critical tool against the commodification of nature, which is trapped within the interests of global capitalism. In conclusion, this artistic research affirms that caricature is not merely an aesthetic illustration but a medium that demands profound reflection on socio-environmental phenomena.

The Paradigm Shift in Interior Architecture: Emerging Frontiers and Future Material Systems

The interior design and architectural industries are undergoing an unprecedented socio-technological transformation driven by climate urgency, resource scarcity, and evolving paradigms of occupant well-being. Historically reliant on static, linear, and extractive material choices, the discipline is shifting toward the specification of "future materials"—advanced substance systems engineered via mechanical, chemical, or biological innovations. This paper comprehensively examines the theoretical frameworks, taxonomies, and life-cycle implications of these emerging material typologies. By classifying innovations into four primary quadrants—Bio-Fabricated, Smart & Interactive, Advanced Circular, and Regenerative/Carbon-Negative—this study analyzes how these systems transform interior spaces from passive enclosures into dynamic, responsive ecosystems. Through deep-dives into mycelium bio-composites, self-healing polymers, and electrochromic glazing, we evaluate the capacity of these materials to optimize indoor environmental quality (IEQ), reduce embodied carbon, and support circular economic models. Finally, the manuscript addresses systemic barriers to market adoption, including scalability limitations, regulatory friction, and supply chain bottlenecks, offering a roadmap for future research and practice in interior architecture.

The Role of Indigenous Himalayan Crafts in Contemporary Circular Fashion: Opportunities and Challenges

The fashion industry is currently shifting from a linear "take-make-waste" model to a restorative circular economy, and although the techno-centric recycling approach to industrial circularity has been the subject of much discussion, indigenous craft systems provide a previously unexplored, time-tested example of a locally applicable, low-impact, and emotionally durable product lifecycle. This review paper systematically examines the potential application of vernacular woodwork (Likhai) and ceremonial folk arts (Barboond) from the Kumaon region of India to the core principles of modern circular fashion, including the material ecologies, geometric design languages, and decentralized supply chains, identifying opportunities for sustainable product-service systems while addressing the systemic challenges of scalability bottlenecks, structural fragmentation, and the preservation of cultural authenticity during digital transformation. Simultaneously, it tackles systemic issues such as structural fragmentation, scalability bottlenecks, and maintaining cultural authenticity during digital transformation. In order to promote cultural and ecological longevity, this study ultimately suggests a comprehensive "Himalayan Circular Design Matrix," which connects traditional knowledge with CAD-driven modern clothing systems.