Fatima Dabaja

Every space we live in, interact with, and pass through could have an influence on our lives (good or bad). I’ve always been fascinated about Interior Design, so I decided to be an interior designer to have the opportunity to design spaces which will have a positive impact on people and make this world a better place to live in. After graduating, I aspire to further my education by pursuing a Master’s degree in the field and then utilise my skillset to make an impact and a positive change.

In my final project, given the site which is Waverley Abbey in Farnham, Surrey, the very first monastery that was founded in Britain by Bishop of Winchester, William Gifford in 1128. We were to choose one of four parts of the ruins to design in.

From the place where people used to make decisions about society, the Chapter House, I chose to design a shop aiming through it to revitalise people’s responsibility and awareness of sustainability by taking them into a journey of Herbal Tea production throughout.

From learning about the tea process, I realised how much hard work is put into the cup of tea which we consume on a daily basis and how we should appreciate it. I aimed to take the users into a journey of making Herbal Tea by engaging and guiding them step by step from plucking the tea leaves till having it in the cup through the three main areas which are: Pluck, Blend and Infuse.

I want my users to know that everything they need to make this cup of tea is sourced from the shop itself. The herbs are grown in the shop on the vertical gardens that are watered through pumping the rainwater stored under the shop, the same water will also be filtered and boiled to be safely used for making the tea. All the electric devises are sourced through the solar energy panels located on the shop’s roof.

In conclusion, the Chapter House where meetings used to take place daily by the monks to have a chapter of the order read to them and to discuss business, will still be a place which will have impact on people and a starting point for a better future.

Please follow me on my Instagram page: @design.tima