Saman Fatima Rizwan - BA (Hons) Interior Design
My work explores how interior design can be used as a tool for social impact, with a particular focus on residential spaces that support vulnerable individuals through major life transitions. HIVE is a self-initiated project designed for young adult care leavers; a group disproportionately affected by housing instability, mental health challenges, and social isolation. The aim is to rethink what transitional housing can be: not temporary or institutional, but emotionally grounded, empowering, and future-focused.
Inspired by the natural order and atmosphere of a beehive, the project prioritises warmth, safety, and community. Rather than replicating the hive’s form, the space interprets its emotional logic, soft boundaries, curved forms, and layered zoning guide residents from private reflection to social engagement. Natural materials like timber, clay plaster, and grounded tones support emotional regulation, while a beekeeping facility introduces routine, sustainability, and therapeutic connection to nature.
My broader interest lies in residential design that promotes wellbeing, routine, and belonging, especially for those at risk of displacement or marginalisation. As well as this, I cherish the concept that all spaces are a form of shelter and should restore dignity, nurture independence, and respond to the psychological as well as practical needs of their users.
