Panels & Furniture Asia September/October 2020

56 | DESIGN
September / October 2020, Issue 5 | Panels & Furniture Asia
Designing for the Tropics: Trends
and Post-Pandemic Observations
By Jo-Ann Teo
Panels & Furniture Asia finds out from furniture designer and manufacturer onestop on
what industry trends have hit the market and what is to come.
With over a decade of experience providing end-to-end
solutions ranging from custom product manufacturing
to fully managed turnkey projects, onestop has
especially established themselves in the luxury hospitality
industry. With a great market reach in tourist havens, especially
in Maldives, notable clients include top-rated international hotel
and resort brands such as Hilton, Sheraton and Westin.
Headquartered in Singapore, onestop owns their own factories in
China and Indonesia. Their factory in Guangdong, China, spans
50,000 sq m and is fully equipped with ISO-certified precision
machinery. Their team of over 200 craftsmen and artisans manage
the full production process from material sourcing to final delivery.
This year, onestop celebrated the opening of their factory in Java,
Indonesia. Combining Indonesia’s renowned carpentry heritage
with the exclusive availability of woodworking materials allows the
production of top-quality products that are even more suitable
for hotels and resorts located in tropical climate conditions.
Depending on the wood used, different cuts and joinery methods
offer different levels of strength, and understanding this would
help to prevent warps, splits and cracks in the long run. For
example, a butt joint, in which two pieces of wood are connected
(usually at a right angle) with mechanical fasteners, are fairly
weak. These may shift and fall apart when exposed to humidity.
A better alternative would be a dovetail joint, in which two pieces
of wood interlock like the fingers of clasped hands. This is often
preferable, especially for furniture that is heavily used. It’s also
best to make wooden items with waterproof glue and treat it with
several coats of finish to seal out moisture.
A dovetail joint, in which two pieces of wood interlock, offers higher
strength and is more shift-resistant (Photograph: Pixabay)
Opened in June 2020, onestop’s new factory in Java allows for easier
access to a skilled carpentry workforce and tropic-suitable material
supplies (Photograph: onestop)
WOOD IS GOOD
Given its versatility and long-lasting lifespan, wood furniture and
panels have remained popular throughout the ages. Its natural,
light and considerably weather-resistant material can create a
cosy atmosphere and add a contemporary touch to any space.
To withstand the hot and humid weather in tropical countries,
teak is a great material of choice due to its natural protective
oils that prevents the wood from drying out and cracking. Often,
in such climates, timber furniture needs to be oiled or coated
with a preservative, and joined with outdoor-grade screws
and hardware.
Rattan is also on the rise as another trendy material for furniture
design in warm and dry climates. As a natural wood, rattan can
be painted and stained different colours, and its flexible and
lightweight properties allow it to be woven into durable products
such as tables and chairs for both indoor and outdoor use.
Amari Havodda in the Maldives uses rattan to make a strikingly classy
statement (Photograph: Amari Havodda)