William Mangold

In a world where life is increasingly defined by the spaces we inhabit, understanding interiors is essential to understanding ourselves. The Interiors Theory Primer maps the intellectual terrain of interior design and spatial experience, introducing readers to key concepts that shape how people occupy interior spaces. Organized into three parts, this book begins with foundational concerns, such as place, identity, materiality, and atmosphere, and then examines the boundaries and expertise of the discipline, before turning to critical and emerging topics like biophilia, virtuality, and social justice. Each chapter presents a focused literature review of a major theme in interiors theory, supported by key design precedents and suggestions for further reading. Drawing on a wide range of scholarship, The Interiors Theory Primer offers a coherent framework for understanding interiors as a distinct, interdisciplinary field deeply embedded in the human condition. Accessible to students, useful to professionals, and provocative for scholars, The Interiors Theory Primer argues that the designed environments in which we live, work, and gather deserve greater attention—not only for their aesthetic and functional qualities but also for their powerful role in shaping contemporary life.

The Interiors Theory Primer

Setha Low

Susan Saegert

Jen Jack Gieseking

Cindi Katz

The People, Place, and Space Reader brings together the writings of scholars, designers, and activists from a variety of fields to make sense of the makings and meanings of the world we inhabit. They help us to understand the relationships between people and the environment at all scales, and to consider the active roles individuals, groups, and social structures play in creating the environments in which people live, work, and play. These readings highlight the ways in which space and place are produced through large- and small-scale social, political, and economic practices, and offer new ways to think about how people engage the environment in multiple and diverse ways. Providing an essential resource for students of urban studies, geography, sociology and many other areas, this book brings together important but, till now, widely dispersed writings across many inter-related disciplines. Introductions from the editors precede each section; introducing the texts, demonstrating their significance, and outlining the key issues surrounding the topic. A companion website, PeoplePlaceSpace.org, extends the work even further by providing an on-going series of additional reading lists that cover issues ranging from food security to foreclosure, psychiatric spaces to the environments of predator animals.

William Mangold

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