What the study found
Research on bio-based and regenerative materials in interior design has grown rapidly since 2017, with strong attention to interior envelope components such as walls and insulation. The study also distinguishes between biofabricated materials and vernacular bio-based materials, and notes a shift toward biologically and digitally mediated material systems.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that interior design is an important part of sustainability because material choices and design behavior affect environmental performance. The study suggests that distinguishing material types and tracking performance over time may help scale regenerative interior materials from experimentation to applied practice.
What the researchers tested
The researchers carried out a PRISMA-based systematic literature review of 104 peer-reviewed publications from 2000 to 2025. They then used VOSviewer, a bibliometric mapping tool, to analyze publication trends, keyword networks, and global collaborations, alongside a qualitative thematic synthesis.
What worked and what didn't
The review found that biofabricated materials such as mycelium, bacterial cellulose, and algae dominate experimental research. Vernacular bio-based materials such as bamboo, mud, straw, and hemp remain central to low-impact interior applications, and the study reports growing attention to BIM (building information modeling), digital twins, and performance metrics.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe detailed limitations beyond noting earlier gaps in the field, including a lack of clear distinction between biofabrication and conventional regenerative materials and limited exploration of material performance over time. The summary is based only on the abstract, so further methodological or result details are not available.
Key points
- Research on bio-based and regenerative interior materials increased rapidly after 2017.
- The strongest focus was on interior envelope elements, especially walls and insulation.
- Biofabricated materials such as mycelium, bacterial cellulose, and algae were prominent in experimental studies.
- Vernacular materials such as bamboo, mud, straw, and hemp remained important for low-impact interior applications.
- The study highlights BIM, digital twins, and performance metrics as part of a shift toward more mediated material systems.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Regenerative interior design research has grown rapidly since 2017
- Authors:
- Priya Tyagi, Charu Jain
- Institutions:
- Sharda University
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-30
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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