The Quan Yi serves as the inspiration for this project. Originating during the Tang dynasties, it carries over 1,300 years of history and embodies the Chinese cosmological principle of “round heaven and square earth,” expressed through its Hand crafted curved horseshoe backrest and grounded square legs.
In contemporary living environments, furniture balances aesthetics with practicality in increasingly compact spaces. Due to its substantial form and limited adaptability, the traditional Quan Yi has become primarily decorative and replaced by more versatile designs.
This project reinterprets the Quan Yi through a system-driven, adaptive approach. A folding mechanism enhances space efficiency, allowing seamless transition between use and storage. The iconic horseshoe backrest is redesigned to integrate dual cup holders, preserving cultural identity while extending function. Strategically placed openings and cutouts reduce weight and create modular attachment points for accessories and storage.
By merging heritage with contemporary needs, this design transforms the Quan Yi into a dynamic, multifunctional object suited for modern living and mass production.
