Short answer

Designers should prioritize 'visible sustainability' (like biophilic greenery and ergonomic natural furniture) to satisfy guest hedonic needs, while embedding 'invisible sustainability' (water and energy efficiency) to optimize facility management.

Field: Sustainability
Source: International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering Technology (2023)
Method: Qualitative semi-structured interviews
Sample: 3 professional experts (Architect, Interior Designer, GBI Facilitator)
Evidence: Moderate effect

Integrating biophilic elements and energy-efficient materials reduces resource consumption while simultaneously fulfilling guests' psychological needs for aesthetic pleasure and sensory comfort. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering Technology. Using Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 3 professional experts (Architect, Interior Designer, GBI Facilitator), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should prioritize 'visible sustainability' (like biophilic greenery and ergonomic natural furniture) to satisfy guest hedonic needs, while embedding 'invisible sustainability' (water and energy efficiency) to optimize facility management.

Study

SustainabilityRecentModerate effect

Sustainable interior criteria improve hotel operational efficiency and user hedonic satisfaction

Integrating biophilic elements and energy-efficient materials reduces resource consumption while simultaneously fulfilling guests' psychological needs for aesthetic pleasure and sensory comfort.

International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering Technology · 2023

Key Findings

Sustainable design in hotels is driven by seven key factors—biophilia, energy efficiency, water conservation, health/social flexibility, environmental comfort, ergonomics, and green awareness—which collectively lower operational overhead while increasing guest satisfaction.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

Specify low-flow fixtures with premium tactile finishes and integrate indoor vertical gardens to reduce cooling loads while creating the organic aesthetic guests associate with luxury.

Method & Evidence

AimTo identify how sustainable interior design (SID) criteria impact both the operational performance of hotel facilities and the hedonic consumption of the users.

MethodQualitative semi-structured interviews

ProcedureResearchers interviewed professional experts including an architect, an interior designer, and a Green Building Index (GBI) facilitator to map sustainable design variables against operational and psychological outcomes using ATLAS.ti analysis.

Sample3 professional experts (Architect, Interior Designer, GBI Facilitator)

ContextGreen hotels and hospitality facilities management

Strengths & Limitations

Limitations

The study relies on a very small expert sample size and lacks direct quantitative data from hotel guests themselves.

Design Principles

"Hedonic-Efficiency Alignment"

Guests in hospitality settings prioritize sensory and emotional experiences, often valuing the 'feel' of a space over its technical performance. By aligning sustainable materials with hedonic design, hotels can reduce long-term facility maintenance costs without sacrificing the premium aesthetic and comfort levels that drive repeat bookings.

What This Means for Your Design

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Quick Cite

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Research by International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering Technology (2023) suggests that integrating biophilic elements and energy-efficient materials reduces resource consumption while simultaneously fulfilling guests' psychological needs for aesthetic pleasure and sensory comfort.

Source

International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering Technology

Unveiling the Impact of Sustainable Interior Design Criteria on Hotel’s Operational Performance Effectiveness and User’s Hedonic Consumption

journal · 2023

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Questions About This Research

What does the research say about sustainable interior criteria improve hotel operational efficiency and user hedonic satisfaction?: Designers should prioritize 'visible sustainability' (like biophilic greenery and ergonomic natural furniture) to satisfy guest hedonic needs, while embedding 'invisible sustainability' (water and energy efficiency) to optimize facility management. Evidence: International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering Technology (2023).
Why does "Sustainable interior criteria improve hotel operational efficiency and user hedonic satisfaction" matter for design?: Guests in hospitality settings prioritize sensory and emotional experiences, often valuing the 'feel' of a space over its technical performance. By aligning sustainable materials with hedonic design, hotels can reduce long-term facility maintenance costs without sacrificing the premium aesthetic and comfort levels that drive repeat bookings.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers should prioritize 'visible sustainability' (like biophilic greenery and ergonomic natural furniture) to satisfy guest hedonic needs, while embedding 'invisible sustainability' (water and energy efficiency) to optimize facility management.
What research method was used?: Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 3 professional experts (Architect, Interior Designer, GBI Facilitator).
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering Technology.
What should I do differently in my next project?: Specify low-flow fixtures with premium tactile finishes and integrate indoor vertical gardens to reduce cooling loads while creating the organic aesthetic guests associate with luxury.
What are the limitations?: The study relies on a very small expert sample size and lacks direct quantitative data from hotel guests themselves.