TRANSLATING TAI CHI MOVEMENTS INTO CONCEPTUAL INTERIOR ELEMENTS: A DESIGN APPLICATION IN AN ALL-FEMALE MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY

Abstract

This paper explores the translation of Tai Chi movements into conceptual interior design elements, positioning movement as a generator of spatial form and experience. While martial arts facilities are commonly designed based on functional and cultural references, the systematic transformation of bodily movement into interior spatial language remains underexplored. This study adopts a design-based approach in which Tai Chi movements are observed, abstracted into directional diagrams, and developed into conceptual models that inform spatial organisation and interior articulation. The design application is demonstrated through an all-female martial arts academy in Kuala Lumpur, serving as a contextual framework for testing the proposed approach. The findings reveal that Tai Chi movement principles such as flow, continuity, balance, and rhythm can be translated into curvilinear forms, spatial zoning strategies, and interior elements that enhance user experiences both physically and psychologically. The study contributes a conceptual framework for integrating movement-based abstraction into interior design processes, offering an alternative approach to generating spatial narratives beyond conventional stylistic references.