Sustainable Homes Ireland

Going Green in Ireland

Construct Ireland Interview Nicola Elizabeth Jones

Sustainable Homes Ireland - Find here the interview with Nicola from Dublin based Earth Balance Interiors and Jeff from Construct Ireland Magazine.

As Ireland's first Green Interior Designer to be approved by EASCA, the Environmental and Sustainable Construction Association, Jeff talks to Nicola about her role in battling climate change, creating sustainable homes and going green in Ireland.

As the owner of Earth Balance Interiors, I'm a Holistic Interior Designer and Feng Shui Consultant based in Dublin, Ireland.

www.holistic-interior-designs.com
I create interiors that care for health , wellbeing, and the natural environment. Providing interior consultancy and design services to residents and small businesses across Ireland.

www.feng-shui-design-consultancy
I provide Classical Feng Shui Surveys for homes and businesses nationwide. Using Form and Compass School methods to analyse landform, orientation, location & time. Aiming to create the best potential within a property. I'm an Accredited Consultant of the Feng Shui Society, London.

What to your mind, does green interior design encompass?

The green approach is simply ‘responsible design’. Having a responsibility to sustain life and land with every design decision made. ‘Green’ is an umbrella term for a myriad of elements considered as part of the design process. Whether lifecycle analysis, reducing landfill, buying local, downsizing, salvage, re-purposing, heirloom design, anti-allergy, reducing VOCS or daylighting for productivity. These are to name a mere few. Green interior design pulls away from changing trends and synthetic culture, returning to a more traditional, local and natural way of living.

To combine these elements and accomplish a design solution that offers a practical, functional, stylish and ethical interior, alongside the occupant’s requirements can be quite a feat. In that challenge lies a new perspective. The holistic approach is to acknowledge that as humans we are only visiting the earth, we are not the owners. Together these offer a more intelligent method, one that respects our future.

Why do you think there's a need for green interior design?

For years we have been engaged in a consumer driven culture, buying without thought. Media has helped us begin to grasp the seriousness of our man made actions, making way for green building methods and raised public awareness in Ireland. However, green principles usually stop pre interior fit. What’s inside the home is just as important, as every part of an interior has an impact on our health, wellbeing and the environment. It’s time to acknowledge the value of sustainable interiors as an integral part of design and build and not an afterthought.

What would you say to people who question the benefits of disciplines like Feng Shui?

Approach Feng Shui with an open mind and try it. There are two sides of the industry; classical Feng Shui and McFeng Shui. Classical Feng Shui is the true form using the Chinese Lo Pan Compass. I view Feng Shui as a tool for environment analysis. Regardless of the tool, the application of Feng Shui can achieve tremendous results. I’ve learnt the practice and theory, but still to this day no one knows how. My clients experience a variety of benefits in varying degrees; from changes in lifestyle, work, communication, relationships, retention, progression, support to health.

Can you describe a recent project where you've put your principles into practice?

Residential Renovation, Rialto, Dublin 2009 The design brief was to prevent the owners from living outside their home, as they still felt they were renting, with an emphasis on daylight and reclaim. The property had an extension/remodel ‘thrown together’ some years ago, creating a lack of natural daylight, exaggerated heat loss, draughts and a ‘vacant’ feeling. The stairs, lounge and kitchen were open plan, the reception room had become a dump zone, and although the extension gave much needed space, the layout was poorly planned and bare. To save them selling, together we gave the house a chance.

The design solution provided division in the open plan layout and altered room function to suit the path of natural light. Windows were replaced, floors and interior external walls were insulated and sky tubes were installed in the extension. Local, reclaimed and second hand materials were used along with renovation of existing pieces. Freecycle networks were also used to source other items. The occupants did a lot of the labour themselves and recycled waste back into the home or through freecycle networks where possible. The fit out included; sheep’s wool insulation, reclaimed glass blocks, salvage floor boards, FSC timber blinds, organic cotton textiles, natural and plant based paints, natural hard oil timber finish for floors and furniture, natural cork flooring, exposed original floor boards, antique mirrors & light fittings, second hand furniture, rice paper lanterns, CFL bulbs and LED strip lights.

This project was a great example of the myriad of considerations within holistic design. With each client there is always a compromise and push-pull effect; e.g. importing, mass production, chemical content or local availability. What makes a project holistic is exploration of all avenues during the concept stages, allowing the client to make informed decisions about what they are bringing into the home and the impact it has had on the environment or may have on their health and wellbeing. My role is to sustainably guide them towards their own ideas of a perfect interior space.

Sustainable Homes Ireland

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