Page 51 - FDMAsia SepOct 2025

DESIGN 49
www.fdmasia.com | FDM ASIA SEP/OCT 2025

emphasised practicality and elegance. Industrial revolution and Arts & Crafts
A comparative study of Greek vs. Roman furniture design Mechanised production in the 19th century democratised
highlights differences shaped by politics, economy, and religion furniture, but also sparked the Arts & Crafts resistance—
e.g., Peloponnesian silver-inlaid diphros vs. Roman carpentry. advocating for handcrafted quality, honest materials, and

human-centred design.
Ming Dynasty furniture
In China, traditional furniture is renowned for its elegant Modernism (20th century)
simplicity, exquisite craftsmanship, and functional design, Movements such as Bauhaus, De Stijl, and Scandinavian Modern
often crafted from precious hardwoods such as rosewood radically redefined form and function. Designers embraced
and sandalwood. tubular steel, moulded plywood, and minimal ornamentation.
This period (roughly 1368 to 1644 AD) is considered a These shifts prioritised utility and mass production, reshaping
golden age for Chinese furniture, characterised by clean ideals of domestic living.
lines, harmonious proportions, and the use of intricate joinery Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Marcel Breuer

techniques that minimised the need for nails or screws. are key figures for Bauhaus, Theo van Doesburg, Piet Mondrian
are key figures for De Stijl, and Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner,
Medieval to Renaissance Alvar Aalto are key figures for Scandinavian Modern designers.
Following the collapse of the Roman world, the Middle Ages
emphasised durability over decoration until the Gothic and Contemporary and Cultural Perspectives
Renaissance periods revived woodworking artistry—with • Modern design explores cultural identity and emotional
carved panels, ornate reliefs, and classical symmetry inspired resonance. A thematic review underscores how furniture

by antiquity. integrates traditional values with ergonomic and emotional
Andrea Palladio and designers such as Michelangelo factors in different cultures.
influenced furniture design during the Renaissance, moving • The development of zero-waste design—using algorithmic
away from the Gothic style of the Middle Ages. layout optimisation—reflects sustainability goals and
innovative material use.
Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassicism • Meanwhile, ancient traditions continue inspiring contemporary
The Baroque (17th century) and Rococo (early 18th century) practices: Egyptian funerary chairs inform Danish design
embraced lavish ornamentation, extravagant curves, and elite methodologies, stressing symbolic and aesthetic values.
patronage. Baroque, characterised by grandeur and ornate

detail, features designers such as Nicolas Pineau. Rococo, Gary Todd
a lighter, more playful style, includes figures including Juste-
Aurèle Meissonnier.
Neoclassicism in the late 18th century, marked a return
to classical clarity—simple lines, Greco-Roman motifs, and
proportion became dominant as designers rejected the excesses
of prior styles. Neoclassical, which emphasises classical forms

and restraint, includes Thomas Chippendale, Robert Adam,
and George Hepplewhite.
Egyptian furniture