Here have been a number of factors over the last few decades that have increased the ambiguity

of these titles, including the improvement of interior design education. This has in turn increased
the scope of the profession and led many interior designers to becoming more involved with
architectural and technical aspects of interior design, and less with the decorative, soft
furnishings side.

Image courtesy of Free Land Buck

As a result, many interior design degree courses have been renamed as interior architecture
degrees to more accurately reflect what they cover. Courses like this have also shot up in
popularity, producing a growing number of architecturally savvy designers, and in turn making it
more difficult to differentiate between architecture and interior design.

So what is interior architecture, and perhaps just as importantly, how does it differ from
architecture, interior design and interior decoration?
Below, we have attempted to explain the differing roles and responsibilities of all of these
professions.

What is Interior Architecture?

Image from Kengo Kuma licensed under CC BY – 2.0

Interior architecture deals with the design of structures and living or working spaces, including
aspects of interior design and architecture. Students pursuing a degree in this field might take
courses in occupational and safety standards, design and drafting. 

Strictly speaking, interior architecture is a subject and not a profession. The designation of the
term ‘architect’ is protected (like doctor) and cannot be used by anyone who does not have the
specific qualifications and accreditation.

Interior architecture as a term has come into use due to the increasing scope and responsibilities
of interior designers in recent times due largely to improvements in design technology (CAD) as
well as improvements in interior design education. Many degree courses now teach students
about the structural technical elements of buildings, which has begun to blur the line between
architecture and interior design.

The role of any two different interior designers may differ drastically. Whereas one may be more
concerned with decor, soft furnishings and small scale projects, another may be more concerned
with larger projects involving technical as well as artistic and aesthetic skills. The latter will be
more likely to have studied interior architecture.
Image from March Studio

The practice of interior architecture requires designers to consider pretty much everything to do
with the building of an interior space that will affect human habitation, including materials,
finishes, electrical requirements, plumbing, lighting, ventilation, ergonomics, and intelligent use
of space. Interior designers with training in interior architecture will usually be present at, and
have an important say during all stages of the construction process, from the initial plans right
through to the finishing touches.
Image from Reynermedia  licensed under CC BY – 2.0

The changing needs of modern society have made the role of the architecturally aware interior
designer increasingly prominent. In retail especially, a building is often redesigned on the
interior only with the original shell of the building remaining unchanged. This kind of renovation
project is the true realm of interior architecture.

In simple and broad terms, interior design is more to do with the art of the building and interior
architecture more concerned with the science.
What is Interior Decoration?

  Image by Anthony Quintano licensed under CC BY – 2.0.

An interior decorator is solely concerned with the aesthetics of the building, including colour
schemes, furniture, and art work. They are involved with the art side of design, and less with the
science. Interior decorators will have no concern with the structural design of the building and
are not required to be as knowledgable about building regulations. As in the image above of the
Christmas decorations from the White house in 2014, there is no involvement with any aspect of
the space other than with décor, so this project would require the services of an interior
decoration contractor.

An interior decorator will not usually need to be involved from the beginning of the build and
will not need to have in-depth knowledge of technical elements such as CAD and structural
design. They must, however, be very artistic and have a fantastic eye for interior design trends
and aesthetic detail.

All interior designers, even those trained as interior architects, should be skilled in the art of
interior decoration in order to complete their job properly.
 Summary

 Interior architecture is the balancing of the art and science of designing an interior
space taking into account all elements of the build. However, a designer with training in interior
architecture cannot call themselves as such unless they have the professional accreditation from
an architectural body.

 Interior design is a broad ranging profession taking into account all aspects of planning
and designing interior spaces in the built environment. The role of any two interior designers can
vary greatly.

 Interior decoration is concerned solely with the decoration or ‘art’ of a space including
soft furnishings and colour schemes.
Whether it is a cup of coffee that we share with a special someone or the quiet space that we look for to
cram for our exams, these spaces provide us the right kind of environment to meet our needs. In fact, this
need for the right kind of built and interior space has existed since pre-historic ages. From the cave
drawings of early man to the planned architecture of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro to smart-cities of
modern India, our built environment has been a reflection of our existence and its evolution. 

Architecture, Interior Architecture and Design and Interior Decoration – these are facets of how we
perceive, conceive, create and adorn built spaces to provide the intended experience to the user of that
space. These built spaces may be permanent or temporary (exhibitions events, sets). They may be for a
residential project or for a commercial space and may involve the use of the most technologically
advanced fixtures and fittings or may use traditional features that have an old world-charm or use a
combination of both! The permutations and combinations are plenty!
But what is the difference between Architecture, Interior Architecture and Design, and Interior
Decoration?
Architecture is a broad-based field concerned with the process of construction. It encompasses all aspects
of planning, designing and execution as per prescribed architectural laws and regulations. The focus here
is more on the exterior design of a building. ‘Interior Architecture and Design’ and ‘Interior Decoration &
Styling’ are specialised areas within architecture that focus on planning, designing, decorating or re-
purposing internal aspects of the structure to make it usable for the client in accordance with their
functional and aesthetic needs.

Relationship Between Architecture, Interior Architecture & Design and Interior Decoration and Styling
But aren’t ‘Interior Architecture & Design’ and ‘Interior Decoration’ the same?
Decorating a space means to make it beautiful.
Interior Decoration and styling is more focused on the artistic and aesthetic aspects of the built-space.
Design is all about making a space conducive to the various needs of the user. In this sense, design is
much more than selecting colours of the curtains and arranging furniture in a room. It involves an
advanced understanding of built environment and ergonomics.
Interior Architecture and Design is the knowledge of and the ability to intelligently apply design concepts
to create functionally and structurally sound and aesthetically appealing interiors. It requires knowledge
of concepts of design and technology (within architecture) such as construction, material, landscape,
space design, conservation, services (such as plumbing, HVAC) and even adaptive re-use (reusing a
building for a purpose other than it was built for, such as, palaces that have now been converted into
luxury hotels). This is combined with an understanding of complex design processes, safety and
sustainability, and demographics of end user.
In this way, an interior architect and designer is a specialist who –
  understands the structural, hardware-related and softer aspects of finishing and furnishing a space
 has a sound awareness of human history and anthropology, design theory and perspectives,
materiality and technology, spatiality and styling to give the best interior space experience to the
client or user.

The Components of Interior Architecture & Design

Here is an example to better understand the work of an Interior Architect and Designer:
Let us say an historic 18 th century ‘Haveli’ (mansion) is to be converted into a fine-dining Indian
restaurant. While the outer shell of the building will retain the look of a haveli, the inner structure will be
renovated or adapted to serve the new purpose. A built space with bedrooms, living-rooms, a kitchen and
spaces that we find in homes will have to be converted into a space that has a large dining area, a bar, a
kitchen, pantry, restrooms and other required spaces for a state-of-the-art restaurant. The structure will
also have to adhere to fire-safety regulations. It will require new wiring circuits, electrical fixtures, and
lighting as well as services such as plumbing and HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning). It
will also require furniture and installations, décor and curios to adorn the space. All of this work
described in this example comes under the preview of the Interior Architect & Designer.
This is an example of adaptive re-use, a field that is fast growing within Interior Architecture!
Other interesting areas of work for interior architect designers are in:
 Home and Office Interior Architecture and Design
 Set Design (Temporary and dynamic in nature)
 Exhibition Design (Temporary and dynamic)
 Retail Space Design (Dynamic )
 Residential and commercial landscape design and detailing
 Furniture, fixtures and equipment Design
 Accessories and Furnishings Design
 Visual design for Interior Design companies
 Interior Design in the health care and hospitality sectors