Abstract:
In 2011; after a series of workshops, round table discussions, think-tank
sessions and meetings with hundreds of professionals from various fields,
International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI)
introduced a striking document coined “IFI Interiors Declaration” as a
manifestation of the interiors discipline. This manifesto focuses on the
interiors phenomenon through seven predetermined concepts as value,
relevance, responsibility, culture, business, knowledge and identity. The
IFI Interiors Declaration (IFI ID) is a consensus based vision/mission
statement that is manifesting the discipline of interiors through its purpose
and value. Rather than trying to come up with a detailed explanatory
document like a constitution, it was aimed to provide a more general and
brief document for interiors internationally. The study aims to reconsider
this historical document through a rhetorical analysis which aims to
examine and understand the discourse of the declaration through seven
specific concepts in relation with several other discourses and theories. It
is concluded that the IFI Interiors Declaration is open for interpretation
in relation with cultural and regional means but as a common
understanding it is specifically addressing the fact that interior
architecture/design supports life and humanity by all its activities,
functions and actions.
