ASID Career Day - Design Center Ft. Lauderdale & Casa Decor 2007 Revisit

Thank you also to ASID for organizing a wonderful student career day at the Design Center in Ft. Lauderdale. It was a pleasure to participate in the Round Table discussion. The green office at Casa Décor was very popular with the participants and I am glad that we had full tables for all 7 rounds.

My short 10 minute presentation focused on integration and overlap of sustainable issue between architects and interior designer. There are numerous simple items that can easily be included on even the most basic design. Smart, energy saving lighting, non toxic paint and proper window treatments to reduce solar heat gain should be standard for any professional at this time…and there certainly is no need to forfeit any style or quality of design; usually it will enhance any scheme and leave the client happier as the savings roll in…

A little more about Casa Décor. The room was sponsored by USGBC South Florida with the exquisite help of Carl Hildebrandt. Birgit Auge of XO Design did her part to make the 6 week exhibit a success. Thank you both!

As for the design, Kay Witte and Sebastian Eilert crated a flexible home office with custom built furniture, using coconut palm and recycled glass tile. The design concept was to challenge the traditional home office and allow for flexibility of the use of the space and the furniture…so they ended on wheels. Two items were built, a work station to hold computer and accessories , easily closed and moved by one person. Use it in dorms, home office or any space that may require to move in and out… The second piece is a sofa that will allow the use by an individual to sketch, work with keyboard in the lab or sketch freely. It is large enough for a 2 person conference…if more room is needed, roll it aside and, voila, the home office is ready for the “office-party”. To make sure that clutter is minimized, storage is included in the back with a neat roll down door to cover it all.

Thanks to Winfield Austin of Winward Associates, the ideas were made a reality. I am pleased that the ideas are still well received today, over a year after end of the exhibit…