Inhabitat.com is a weblog devoted to the future of design, tracking the innovations in technology, practices and materials that are pushing architecture and home design towards a smarter and more sustainable future.
With an interest in design innovations that enhance sustainability, efficiency, and interactivity in the home, Inhabitat is focused on objects and spaces that are eco-friendly, multi-purpose, modular, and/or interactive. Inhabitat believes that good design balances substance with style and are frustrated by the fact that a lot of what we see being touted as “good design” in magazines and at stores is all style and no substance. A lot of contemporary design merely imitates the classic Modernist aesthetic without any of the idealistic social agenda that made Modernism such a groundbreaking movement back in the early 20th Century. The flip side to this is that often real technological innovations (the ones which will eventually change the way we live our lives), are often not packaged into enough of a stylish aesthetic to move beyond niche circles and crossover into mainstream popular taste.
Inhabitat was born from a frustration at seeing an emergent category called “Green Design” - as if sustainability is somehow separate from good design in general. The Inhabitat blog believes that all design should be inherently “Green”. Good design is not about color, style or trends - but about thoughtfully considering the user, the experience, the social context and the impact of an object on the surrounding environment. No design can be considered good design unless it at least attempts to address some of these concerns.
Inhabitat believes in the original modernist ideology that form and function are intertwined in design. Style and substance are not mutually exclusive, and Inhabitat is here to prove it!
Founded by NYC designer Jill Fehrenbacher, Inhabitat is a forum in which to investigate emerging trends in product, interior and architectural design. Ali Kriscenski is the Managing Editor; Emily Pilloton, Mike Chino, Evelyn Lee, Abigail Doan and Jorge Chapa are Senior Editors. Contributing writers include Cate Trotter, Kate Andrews, Alex Kain and Sarah Rich.
