POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN and the BUILT ENVIRONMENT

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR DESIGN
PUP Engineering and Architecture Building, NDC Compound,
Anonas cor. Pureza Sts., Sta. Mesa, Manila
Tel: (632) 713 9304

QUINTANA, KYLA S.
2018-03439-MN-0
Professional Practice and Ethics

Activity 2: Interior Design vs. Interior Architecture

What is an Interior Architecture?

Interior architecture focuses on the interior and its functionality for human
occupancy. Interior architecture blends art and science to create, restore, or readapt the
inside of various buildings, like homes, offices, or other interior spaces. This type of
architecture also involves converting one type of space into another (also called
adaptive re-use), like turning the indoor space of an old office building into livable
housing.

What is an Interior Design?

Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to
achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using
the space. An interior designer is someone who plans, research, coordinates, and
manages such enhancement projects. Interior design is a multifaceted profession that
includes conceptual development, space planning, site inspections, programming,
research, communicating with the stakeholders of a project, construction management,
and execution of the design.

The difference of the two.

Interior architecture focuses more on structural design, with an emphasis on

adaptive reuse and the remodelling of existing buildings. Whereas interior design is the
practice of creating interior atmospheres – focusing on finishes, furniture and colour
palettes.
 Both interior designers and interior architects have a similar set of skills but need
to apply these skills in diverse ways. Interior design and interior architecture are both
creative and innovative careers to work in and can help transform the way we use
spaces to live, work and play.
1. Interior architects deal with structural renovations. The interior architect will
usually design the whole structure of an interior and get involved on a more
technical level in their design process. They work with builders, contractors, and
technicians to facilitate the rebuilding or renovation of an existing structure.
2. You need a license to be an architect. The major difference between interior
architecture and interior design is that all architects must have a license to call
themselves architects, and to practice architecture.
3. Interior design is more about aesthetics. Interior design is a profession that
focuses on architecture and space planning, creating cohesive and aesthetically
pleasing designs for home interior and businesses within a built environment or
existing structures. However, the interior design profession has evolved
throughout the years as more designers have taken on these technical aspects
of addressing architectural structures within their designs

To provide a clear comparison for both Interior Design and Interior Architecture, I will
provide a list below the scope and work and show it to a Venn diagram.

• Structural Elements
• Artistic Components
• Safety
• Sustainability
• Supervision
• Functionality
• Costing
• Degree in Architecture
• 2 years Apprenticeship
• Degree in Interior Design
• Provide Plans/Sketches/ Drawings
References:

• https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/news/difference-interior-design-interior-
architecture#:~:text=Interior%20architecture%20focuses%20more%20on,finishes
%2C%20furniture%20and%20colour%20palettes

• https://www.masterclass.com/articles/interior-architecture-vs-interior-design

• https://elle.education/business/the-difference-between-interior-architecture-and-
interior-design/