What is the Mortise and Tenon Structure?
The mortise and tenon structure is a woodworking joint where one component (the tenon) is inserted into a corresponding cavity (the mortise) to form a stable connection without nails or glue. Historically used in temples, furniture, and wooden equipment, this technique requires high precision and craftsmanship. With the advancement of digital fabrication and CNC machinery, mortise and tenon structures are now more accessible and adaptable for contemporary product design.
Types of Mortise and Tenon Joints
 |
 |
These adaptable joint styles give designers the freedom to create functional and aesthetically distinctive products, suitable for a wide range of applications in the cultural and creative industries.
Advantages of Using Mortise and Tenon Structures in Product Design
The mortise and tenon system promotes modularity. Each part functions independently but can be interchanged or replaced easily. This allows for:
 |
 |
This modular flexibility aligns well with today’s sustainable design goals and the rising demand for personalized consumer products.
Mortise and tenon joints allow for imaginative structural modeling. The variety of joint types supports:
 |
 |
Even with simplified processing using modern tools, the essence of traditional mortise and tenon craftsmanship remains intact, allowing designers to meet both functional needs and aesthetic preferences.
Traditionally using wood, mortise and tenon structures naturally align with eco-conscious design. Their advantages include:
As sustainable design becomes more critical, mortise and tenon structures offer a tangible way to integrate green principles into modern products.
Cultural and Creative Product Innovation: Real-World Applications
In the globalized cultural and creative industry, product design is no longer just about function—it’s about storytelling, identity, and heritage. The mortise and tenon structure, when integrated with modern creativity, adds cultural depth and engineering strength to product design.
Case Study 1: Dovetail Business Card Case
One product cleverly integrates a sycee-shaped dovetail joint to form a modern business card case. The weight of the tenon replaces traditional clamps, ensuring a secure fit while providing a minimalist, heritage-inspired aesthetic. The ease of assembly and replacement of parts increases product longevity and adaptability for various user needs.
Case Study 2: NUDE Coatrack
Award-winning product NUDE, inspired by the traditional Luban lock, demonstrates how the mortise and tenon concept can be translated into contemporary furniture. The product uses angled interlocks for stability, eliminating the need for external fasteners. Its six-part design shares stress loads evenly, making it durable, easy to disassemble, and environmentally friendly.
Design Considerations for Cultural Products Using Mortise and Tenon
Conclusion: Beyond Aesthetic—Toward Functional Culture
The mortise and tenon structure is not merely a traditional craft—it is a design philosophy rooted in sustainability, modularity, and cultural identity. When applied thoughtfully to cultural and creative products, it brings together the past and present in ways that are both functional and meaningful. For designers aiming to balance modern innovation with historical depth, the mortise and tenon joint is not just a tool—it is a bridge between cultures, timelines, and design ideologies.
As the world grows more interested in sustainable and culturally grounded design, continued exploration of mortise and tenon structures will be essential. This isn’t just about reviving a technique—it’s about reshaping how we think, create, and connect through products.
Source: IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering
The News 01/08/2025
Hinoki wood (Japanese cypress – Chamaecyparis obtusa) is a precious type of wood native to Japan, known for its light color, fine grain, and pleasant natural aroma. Thanks to its antibacterial, moisture-resistant, and heat-resistant properties, Hinoki has long been used in traditional architecture, such as temples, onsen bathtubs, and especially saunas. With its calming fragrance and exceptional durability, Hinoki is increasingly favored in modern bathroom design, offering a luxurious and serene experience for users.
The News 22/07/2025
In the context of rapid urbanization, localized flooding and water pollution are becoming increasingly severe, particularly due to stormwater runoff on impermeable surfaces such as concrete and asphalt. Permeable pavers have emerged as an advanced, environmentally friendly construction material designed to reduce stormwater runoff and filter pollutants at the source. Not only do these pavers allow for rapid water drainage, but they also act as a primary filter that traps dust, heavy metals, and vehicle-related contaminants, thus improving urban environmental quality. This material is a part of the new wave of sustainable construction trends, widely adopted in developed countries but still relatively new in Vietnam.
The News 11/07/2025
In the era of digital technology and the explosive growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), architecture is no longer merely the art of construction—it has evolved into an intelligent ecosystem, where buildings can sense, analyze, and respond to their environment. One of the most advanced solutions driving breakthroughs in modern construction is the sensor-embedded brick with integrated circuits. This is no longer a passive traditional building material, but rather a “sensing brick,” equipped with internal sensors and processing microchips capable of measuring temperature, humidity, vibration, and impact forces, and wirelessly transmitting data in real-time. The application of this technology in construction not only enhances the ability to monitor structural safety but also unlocks the potential for smart, sustainable, and energy-efficient buildings. This topic aims to clarify the role of integrating sensors and microchips into building bricks, the manufacturing process, and notable practical applications.
The News 03/07/2025
The rapid growth of the construction industry has significantly contributed to global resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, the search for environmentally friendly alternative materials has become a critical necessity. One promising direction is the use of mycelium bio bricks, a type of bio composite material that can self grow and bind organic substrates.
The News 30/06/2025
3D concrete tiles are a modern type of building and decorative material, made from concrete or geopolymer, with a raised three-dimensional surface featuring geometric, natural, or artistic patterns. Thanks to their strong visual effects, 3D concrete tiles not only provide high aesthetic value but also help improve sound insulation, thermal resistance, and waterproofing. With advantages in durability, ease of construction, and environmental friendliness, especially when combined with recycled materials such as ground brick waste, 3D concrete tiles are becoming an ideal material solution for both interior and exterior modern spaces.
The News 25/06/2025
Amid rapid urbanization and rising aesthetic demands in modern construction, smart and sustainable materials are gradually replacing traditional solutions. Among them, luminescent concrete has emerged as an innovative trend that combines lighting functionality with the mechanical durability of conventional concrete. Not only does it offer a distinctive visual appeal, but it also enhances safety, conserves energy, and improves spatial efficiency in low-light environments. With vast potential for applications in transportation infrastructure, landscape architecture, and smart urban design, this material is paving the way for new directions in the construction industry during the era of green technology.
Members