Furniture
Furniture
being a very important element of interiors, its form and detailing become
more significant in encapsulating the desired thematic context within the
spaces. Rapid changes in lifestyles are bound to reflect in design too.
There are three important questions that arise when we discuss current
trends while designing the furniture.
- What is design?
- Who is it for?
- What are the mechanisms that used to be created to satisfy the above two?
According to one of the great designer, the need for design is "to be
innovative highly creative, cross disciplinary tool responsive to the true
needs of men." Unfortunately the present trends in design are on the
aesthetics and association, use and methods come on a secondary priority.
Design has not only to do with beauty; it has to do with the wit and charm
, the humor or playfulness that animates an idea. If we take a quick look at
the history and development of modern furniture, a parallel with modern
architecture and technology can be observed. In the first half of 19th
century, the technical progresses came in and then in second half, the
movement for artistic quality. These two paths finally converged in the
early 20th century and it destroyed the traditional boundaries between the
interior and exterior spaces. Then a new approach to design the furniture
and interior spaces , emerged. This approach remained a strong influence
throughout the development of art and architecture.
Nowadays furniture is more 'designed' then ever before. Innovative designs
are now the order of the day because the nuclear family needs more
utilitarian furniture, more dual-use stuff, the 'this way day and this by
night' furniture. In keeping with current spaces, furniture has become more
minimalist, simpler, more functional and less ostentatious than before. Gone
are the heavily carved and gilt finished sofas and dining sets of
yesterdays, this is the time of modular and sleek furniture.
Now if we see the furniture over the ages and furniture today, it really
reflects the real 'generation gap'. Period furniture had an over abundance
of decorative carvings, rich upholstery and brocades, paintings, inlay work,
gliding and applied ornamentation. In contrast, Modern furniture depicts a
conscious effort to break away from the historical styles to create an
impression of lightness and clarity, with insistence on forms that have no
reference to the past styles. Living in style carries its own individual
meaning for each person. Some consider style as a luxury while for others it
is current fashion trend. But a good design is more fundamental and
permanent in nature, not merely influenced by short term fashion trends.
Good furniture is meant to afford comfort and operational ease for a
specific purpose.
Nowadays another craze is of "antiques". 'Antique' furniture has
become so fashionable and attractive, that it's lucrative for dealers to
duplicate and difficult for buyers to judge whether they have bought an
original or not. The term antique is very loosely used nowadays. According
to Webster's dictionary "An antique is an object having special value
because of its age , especially a work of art or handicraft more than a 100
years old." One should develop the right attitude if they are genuinely
keen on collecting furniture. One should be educated, cautious, patient
buyer and should read about different styles of furniture and furniture
makings. One should be able to differentiate between different qualities of
wood, design and production.
Ours is a living culture of traditions, crafts, styles and philosophy that
highlights work as a way of inner fulfillment, of wholesome attitudes and a
distinctive, sensible way of life .Perhaps there is a way to combine good
ideas from both: use hand skills and technology in the right proportions and
create a fusion. New styles may be born, with new perspectives and fresh way
of thinking. Thus, in brief, from the traditional Indian style of squatting
on the floor and performing various activities with the aid of low furniture
pieces to imbibe western patterns of furniture design, we have now reached a
stage where consciousness to furniture oriented to functionality and
creativity is gradually surfacing. Thus furniture should always follow the
simple lines and best in functionality. Design has begun to manifest itself
in the form(shape) of the product , rather than on embellishments(carving ,
inlay , moldings etc.)
