Practical Philosophy

Whether interiors, interior design, interior architecture or interior decoration, the word 'interior' is generally understood as a given enclosed three-dimensional space and as a practice of the built environment. The word 'space' is often interchangeable with 'interior'. An understanding of interior - usually referred to as 'the interior' and in relation to existing space, form and structure - is reiterated through the dominant narratives of interior design practice, histories and theories. The subject who inhabits this space is also understood as an interior - as a centred, contained self. 'interior' is rarely opened up and posed as a question even though 'interior design' is a practice of designing interior. Assumed as natural self-givens, these understandings of interior are actually shaped and inflected by theoretical frameworks. Through practice, I experiment with opening up the question of 'interior' as a problematic and pose ?interior. Placing the question mark beforehand produces a stumbling and a pause that intervenes in the process of making assumptions. This practice includes exhibition design and curation, supervision of creative practice PhDs, research projects and teaching in an undergraduate interior design program. A practical philosophy - a philosophy produced through the practice of interior design - has emerged which engages theory and practice in ways that differ from relations between theory and practice where theory is applied to practice or practice is theorized. In this presentation, the provocation of ?interior as a theoretical intervention through practice will be considered in relation to practice, research and education; and through this re-posing the potential of interior design as a twenty-first century practice becomes apparent. Globalisation, mass migration, urban density and contemporary technologies have transformed people's sense of space, place, belonging and modes of living. New ways of thinking about habitability and the relati