I am an interior architect currently working in New York, with a design practice that integrates architecture, interior design, and furniture design. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Architecture and furthered my studies with a Master's in Architecture and Urban Design (MSAAD) from Columbia University's GSAPP. Over the course of my architectural journey, I gradually shifted towards the field of interior architecture.
I strive to break the boundaries between architecture, interior design, and furniture design, seeking to create a seamless integration where each element enhances and informs the others.
Currently, my architectural practice is primarily focused on interior architecture. The main areas of my work include architectural design, residential interior architecture, and integrated furniture design.
My personal practice focuses on exploring spatial elements at different scales, aiming to achieve balance and transformation within those spaces.
The design direction I find most captivating is the exploration of different scales within architecture, particularly the smaller-scale elements like furniture. The act of balancing and weaving together spatial elements of varying scales is an endlessly intriguing pursuit for me.
While large-scale public designs are important, I find that designing at the human scale offers a more intimate connection — one that resonates deeply with my emotions and personal experience, making the design process feel more visceral and meaningful.
For furniture design, I start by identifying a core theme to explore. For example, with the F&C chair, the core theme I wanted to explore was the transformation between positive and negative space.
From there, the rest of the design process revolves around this central concept. Through extensive prototyping and simulation, I gradually refine the design to meet aesthetic standards.
For our team, we are very happy to receive recognition from the MUSE Design Awards. We know that many large, professional design firms compete and win in these awards.
As a small architectural team of just two people, it is an honor for our work to be acknowledged with such a prestigious commercial award. This recognition also motivates us to create even more works in the future.
The F&C Chair transcends conventional seating, conceived by an architect who redefines the symbiosis between spatial form and human posture. Through an architectural lens, the F&C Chair embodies a synthesis of two distinct sitting elevations: the elevated perch of a 750mm bar stool and the relaxed repose of a 350mm lounge chair.
This duality is elegantly resolved within a single form, where a 180-degree rotation transforms the chair's function and identity, challenging the boundaries of traditional furniture design. We chose to submit this work because it captures our perspective as architects on the relationship between furniture and space, offering a deeper, multidimensional understanding.
The design also resonates with our approach to integrated thinking in our daily practice. In essence, architecture and furniture are intertwined, each influencing and elevating the other.
I would recommend that architects pay more attention to classic interior and furniture design as well. Architecture, as a vessel for space, is deeply intertwined with how the interior spaces are presented and how people interact with them.
Many modernist architectural masters, for example, Le Corbusier, created iconic furniture pieces such as the LC series sofas. Revisiting the works of these classic masters is incredibly beneficial for both architectural and furniture design.
Jiaying Qu is an interior architect whose journey led to a focus on interior architecture, where she explores the seamless integration of architecture, interior design, and furniture to create cohesive, interconnected spaces.
Explore the journey of Hao Liu, the Gold Winner of the 2024 MUSE Design Awards. He is a visual and cultural creative designer with experience working on brand collaborations and government cultural projects in China, building extensive hands-on expertise across diverse industries.