This is the consolidated notes

1. OBJECTIVES:
To study the History and its influences on social and cultural aspects of interior designing.
Course Outcomes:
Understanding of the theory and methodologies associated with Interior design.
Acquire basic skills for analysing and describing interiors.
Gain an appreciation for the built environment, its history, development over time, and its conservation.

2. THEORY Course Content:
Unit 1: History of interiors and furniture of the ancient world (15 Hrs)
Chapter 1:
Elements of style and determinants of architectural and interior environments, including furniture styles of ancient civilizations.
Greek, Roman, Egyptian. Early medieval period – Early Christian, Byzantine, Gothic.
Chapter 2:
Elements of style and determinants of architectural and interior environments, including furniture styles of Romanesque,
Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo & Colonial.
Chapter 3:
Elements of style and determinants of architectural and interior environments, including furniture styles of Regency, Neoclassical,
Art Nouveau, Art deco style, the arts and craft movement, and designers.
Unit 2: Chinese & Indian Furniture style (15 Hrs)
Chapter 4:
Elements of style and determinants of architectural and interior environments, including furniture styles of Oriental style – Chinese
and Japanese furnitures.
Chapter 5:
Elements of style and determinants of architectural and interior environments, including furniture styles of Indian Interiors:–
Rajasthani, Saharanpur, Dravidian , Jain , Buddhist and Bamboo furniture of Northeast.
Chapter 6:
Elements of style and determinants of architectural and interior environments, including furniture styles of Indian Interiors: Islamic
style, Indo-Saracenic style.
Unit 3: Modern & Post Modern (12 Hrs)
Chapter 7:
English furniture from 16th to 18th century. Tudor, Stuart, Jacobean, Restoration period, Queen Ann period, Gregorian period,
Chippendale, Sheraton.
Chapter 8:
Modern era – Elements of style, furniture elements and interior in Art movements’ cubism, surrealism, romanticism, mid-century
modern.
Chapter 9:
Postmodern era - Industrial style Bauhaus, Charles and Ray Eames

3. References :
1. Alan Barnard & Jonathan Spencer, Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Taylor & Francis, 1996
2. Alan Colquhoun, Modern Architecture, History of Arts, First Edition, Paperback publishers, ISBN: 13978-0192842268
3. Barry Burgdoll, European Architecture (1750-1890) Oxford History of Arts, First Edition, Paperback publishers, ISBN:
13978-0192842220
4. Charles. V. Stanford, Studies in Indian society, Culture and Religion, South Asia Books, 1988.
5. Clifford Geertz, the Interpretation of Cultures, Basic Books, 1977.
6. Human Behaviour in the Social Environment: A Social Systems Approach, Gary Lowe, Irl Carter, Ralph Anderson, Aldine
Transaction, 1999
7. Kenneth Frampton, Modern Architecture: A Critical History, Fourth Edition, Thames and Hudson, ISBN: 13978-0500203958
8. Kumar Raj (Ed) Essays on Indian Art and Architecture. Discovery pub., New Delhi, 2003

4. PRACTICAL Course Content:
Unit 1: Greek, Roman (8 Hrs)
● Sketching of Furniture of Ancient Style – Greek, Roman, Gothic style & Egyptian
Unit 2: Renaissance (24 Hrs)
● Sketching and rendering of Renaissance period – Furniture Baroque, Neo classical, Regency, Rococo and Colonial.
Unit 3: 20th Century (24 Hrs)
● Sketching and Rendering of English Furniture
● Sketching and rendering of 20th Century Furniture
● Sketching of Indian Furniture- Hindu, Islamic, Saracenic, Rajasthan, Dravidian,

5. EGYPT
Egyptian antique furniture provides almost the only surviving examples of actual ancient furniture.
They believed that possessions could still be used in the afterlife, and items of furniture
were buried with the dead in sealed tombs. In the hot, dry climate of Egypt, many items were
preserved through the centuries to become fascinating and valuable museum pieces today.
The ancient Egyptians formed the first of the great classical civilizations. While most of Europe was
still in the Stone Age, the Egyptians were building palaces, studying mathematics and writing on
papyrus.
They were great builders and great artists, drawing the inspiration for their art from
nature. A complex social and religious structure was in place. The Egyptians kept books of
accounts and recorded history; their children played with carved wooden toys with moving parts.
Old Kingdom :
Furniture from this period was divided into two groups:
● platform pieces such as benches, chairs, tables, beds, couches, and stools
● boxes such as chests and cupboards.
While there was some surface ornamentation in the form of gilding and carving most Old Kingdom
furniture relied on shape, line, proportion, and texture for its decorative effect. Thrones and chairs
featured carved lion-paw feet, beds were decorated with animal skins and colorful mats, giving us
a clue to the importance that the ancient Egyptians placed on decoration, as well as comfort.

6. EGYPT
Middle Kingdom :
The Middle Kingdom saw further development of earlier trends, with a marked sophistication
evident. Decorative effects such as inlay, paint, gilt, and veneer became more prominent. Popular
design motifs included figures of sacred animals such as cow heads, lion heads, and
hippopotamuses.
New Kingdom :
Witnessed the growth of magnificent cities such as Thebes, with their grand temples, palaces, and
tombs. Naturally the furniture produced during this period is on a similarly luxurious scale, and is
also evidence of greater woodworking skill.
The New Kingdom saw the Egyptians extend their empire to new lands from Nubia to the
Euphrates River and this contact with foreign cultures seems to have had its effect on furnishings.
In wealthy Egyptian Homes, chairs appear in greater abundance. Folding stools were richly painted
in bright colors. Small, low tables were often woven from rush.
Chairs : Egyptian style furniture of the noble and upper classes spared neither cost nor craftsman's
effort. Gold sheathing, ivory inlays, intricate marquetry, inset jewels and fine stones were used to
decorate ancient furniture that was often carved to represent animal forms. Chairs sometimes had
feet in the shape of lion's paws or crocodile feet; legs and feet were sometimes carved to simulate
the legs of a gazelle. Egyptian furniture design commonly incorporated carvings of flowers, animals
or birds.
Stools :Stools were the most common items of furniture in Egyptian homes, and it was the
Egyptians who invented the folding stool. Since these were much used by army commanders in the
field, they became a status symbol, and were often heavily carved and decorated. High backed
chairs are seen in many paintings. These were supplemented with cushions for comfort. Both
stools and chairs commonly had woven rush seats, which have long since disintegrated.

7. EGYPT

8. EGYPT
Beds : Had carved animal-like legs with hooves or paws. They were gently inclined so that the
sleeper's head was elevated, and had a footrest. The wooden Egyptian headrests were probably
covered with a cushion or other soft material. Chests, boxes and cabinets formed an important part of
Egyptian bedroom furnishings. These were highly decorated and were designed for many different
purposes: large chests for storing household items and linen, small compartmentalized ones for
storing cosmetics, and miniature chests with sliding lids and drawers made to hold jewelry.
Home decor :Egyptian home decor was very elaborate. Colored ceilings, wall paintings, carvings,
hangings, inscriptions and tiled floors were the background to ornate furniture and ornaments. Gold,
blue, black, red and orange were popular colors in Egyptian room decor. Egyptian temple decor was
even more elaborate, with rich furnishings and hangings, jeweled ornaments and heavy inscriptions.

9. GREEK

10. GREEK

11. GREEK

12. ROMAN

14. ROMAN

15. ROMAN

16. ROMAN