New Materialism as a Contemporary Design Approach to Sustainable Interior Spaces from the Perspective of Hybrid and Genetic Architecture

This research addresses the reconceptualization of materiality in interior design and furniture from a contemporary philosophical perspective. Materials are no longer inert media that merely convey form or function, but rather independent entities that possess vitality and effectiveness in shaping the user experience. The analysis is based on the evocation of intellectual trends that address the human relationship with material objects. Design-oriented ontology highlights the importance of considering material as a "thing" with an existence no less important than human existence. Phenomenology reinforces the role of the senses and the body in perceiving materials, while the theory of distributed agency emphasizes that the origin of design action is not limited to human practice alone, but rather is shared by the material, the interior designer, and the users as a single entity. The research explores how materials, such as wood, stone, and metal, transform into multidimensional perceptual media. The texture and heat provided by wood create a sense of warmth and intimacy, while metal adds a sense of precision and modernity. Light and its refraction through glass or acrylic expand spatial perception, while sound-absorbing materials play a role in shaping the user's psychological atmosphere. Design is not limited to the distribution of spaces and the placement of furniture, but rather the creation of an integrated sensory experience in which perceptions and emotions are circulated through materials. Within this framework, the sustainability dimension stems from considering material as part of an ethical ecosystem. New materialism offers sustainability that goes beyond inventing environmentally friendly alternatives and revisits the existential relationship between humans and matter. Organic and marine waste are invested in creating products and furniture that evoke narratives of ecological balance, while smart and living organic materials are used to achieve additional functions such as thermal regulation and reducing energy consumption. Sustainability becomes not just a technical goal, but an ontological approach that respects the life cycle of material and recognizes its "vitality." The applied axis highlights four prominent models: the use of marine shell waste in the High Tide Table, designed by Studio Formafantasma, which preserves echoes of the marine environment within a complex structure; the Gemini Chair, designed by MIT, where computer technology and ceramic materials play an active role in temperature regulation; the Egyptian initiative to utilize date palm fibers to produce lightweight furniture that carries its cultural identity; and finally, Maarten Baas's experiment with the Smoke Chair,