The real challenge in approaching sustainability in design lies not merely in recycling or using “eco-friendly” materials, but in rethinking our approach from the very beginning: “many companies talk a lot about sustainability, but often it is more about talking about something that is real, about what you don’t produce, rather than what you recycle, right?” reflects Laura Huerta. This statement places the emphasis on reducing production and the intentionality behind each material choice, going beyond the common rhetoric.
Manuel Jiménez García’s contribution offers a deeper conceptual perspective to this reflection: “the word sustainability right now is a bit worn out, and I prefer to talk about responsibility— that is, responsible design, responsible architecture, is per se sustainable, and otherwise it is irresponsible.” With this, a powerful redefinition is proposed: it’s not just about using fewer resources, but acknowledging that a design act is responsible—and therefore sustainable—by nature, when conceived with ethical intention from its origin.
These ideas propose a practice that prioritizes avoiding excess, while incorporating durable, recycled, or locally sourced materials, instead of relying on later recycling to “rescue” a project. This philosophy invites us to conceive each element as part of a balanced system: planned to minimize waste, prolong useful life, and allow for multiple uses across different future contexts.
Moreover, large-scale 3D printing and robotic manufacturing employed by Nagami emerge as valuable tools in putting this approach of genuine responsibility into practice. Thanks to these technologies, it is possible to precisely fabricate elements designed to enhance functionality while reducing material waste, aligning with the vision of responsible design by default.
It is not enough to merely allude to sustainability; rather, it is imperative to incorporate it as a guiding principle from the very first line of the project. It involves adopting a design culture that avoids overproduction, selects conscious materials, and values durability over the ephemeral.
The statements by Laura and Manuel in this excerpt constitute an ethical call for contemporary interior design practice: it is not sufficient to claim sustainability; what truly defines our professional responsibility is how we conceive, plan, and execute spaces from the outset. Only in this way can we build environments that are genuinely sustainable because they are founded on real responsibility.
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