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Interior Design in Hot and Cold Climates |
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September 26, 2005
By Mary Hobson
Mary.Hobson@firststoponlinedegree.com
First Stop Online Degree Columnist
Recently I moved from a very cold country to a much warmer, sub-tropical climate. I was instantly struck how differently people furnished and used their homes, and how the climate was a major issue for all kinds of different features in the home.
Interior Design Degrees Give Emphasis to Space
In Russia, the cold country I lived in, rugs are hung on the walls as well as spread on the floor. Houses are traditionally heated by a single large brick stove that stands in the middle of the house, with the rooms all built around it. In the city, people live in large apartment blocks. Furniture is traditionally dark wood, windows are shrouded in net curtains as well as thicker drapes, and rooms are multi-purpose. Interior design degrees concentrate on deep color, on designing for an illusion of space, and on creating individuality in similar spaces.
Emphasis on Light
I moved to Auckland, New Zealand, and instantly the sub-tropical climate influence was obvious in people's homes. Kitchens open on to terraces where barbeques are situated. Windows continue into the roof space, allowing houses to maximize the sun and light. Floors are tiled, or consist of parquet blocks. And because of the small population, houses are usually single story and are built on large plots.
It would be impossible to mistake which of the two countries you are in - so how does the interior design industry work with such differing demands? Interior design degrees teach the principles of design, allowing students to apply these in differing situations. Online schools mean that you can study in geographically diverse locations, so interior design degrees have to be structured to apply internationally.
This approach allows the interior design industry to borrow from different cultures, giving opportunities for a rich and varied approach to interior design. Interior design ideas are increasingly international.
Sources:
http://www.academy.edu/interior_design.asp
http://www.adriennechinn.co.uk/links04.htm
Mary Hobson is a consultant for technology start-ups in Russia. She has also worked as an executive officer in a defense facility and as a university lecturer in computer science and management information. Mary earned her first degree in textile marketing and subsequently studied education and computer science at a Master's degree level.
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