COLLECTION NAME:
Graduate Thesis Collection
Record
Title:
Beyond the Threshold: The Agency of Chinese Doors in the Contemporary Mind
Creator:
Brookman, Daniel
Subject:
Thesis (M.F.A.) -- Furniture Design
Subject:
Savannah College of Art and Design -- Department of Furniture Design
Rights:
Copyright is retained by the authors or artists of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Abstract:
This thesis identifies the historical context of the traditional Chinese household door in
terms of function, construction, and cultural significance, and attempts to understand the variety
of original thought that influenced its development from a utilitarian barrier to a sophisticated
architectonic feature at the turn of the twentieth century. Research regarding the physiological
and psychological functions of traditional door technology establishes an interpretation of the
door as a physical and metaphysical intervention in daily life. A lack of meaning in the
application of Chinese household doors today supports a reintegration of archetypal forms that
are designed to enrich the lives of users. The utilitarian and cultural mechanics of these doors,
whether realized in architectural elements or furniture with door-like components, can connect
individuals to a sense of something greater than themselves, facilitate reflection, and offer added
layers of meaning to the contemporary built environment.
terms of function, construction, and cultural significance, and attempts to understand the variety
of original thought that influenced its development from a utilitarian barrier to a sophisticated
architectonic feature at the turn of the twentieth century. Research regarding the physiological
and psychological functions of traditional door technology establishes an interpretation of the
door as a physical and metaphysical intervention in daily life. A lack of meaning in the
application of Chinese household doors today supports a reintegration of archetypal forms that
are designed to enrich the lives of users. The utilitarian and cultural mechanics of these doors,
whether realized in architectural elements or furniture with door-like components, can connect
individuals to a sense of something greater than themselves, facilitate reflection, and offer added
layers of meaning to the contemporary built environment.
Publisher:
Savannah, Georgia : Savannah College of Art and Design
Date:
2013-05
Format:
PDF : 55 p. : ill