Douglas Snelling

  • Architect (Architect / Interior Architect / Landscape Architect)
Snelling came to Australia in 1942 following work in the USA. and New Zealand. During the 1939-45 war, he worked with the U.S. Navy and the Kriesler Radio Company. In 1947 he formed a partnership in Sydney to manufacture furniture to his designs. This became Functional Products. His subsequent interior design and architecture career in Australia and elsewhere parallels his embrace of modernism.
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Douglas Snelling. (1917-1985). The English-born Snelling immigrated to Australia in 1942 following design work in the United States and New Zealand. During the 1939-45 war, he returned to the U.S.A. and worked with the U.S. Navy and the Kriesler Radio Company. In 1947 he formed a partnership in Sydney to manufacture furniture to his designs. This became Functional Products Pty Ltd and their furniture was called “The Snelling Line”. Snelling was one of the first Australian designers to explore laminated timber for commercial furniture. Drawing on international trends, he also encouraged the use of synthetic fibre webbing to replace padded upholstery. In the 1950’s Snelling began to practice architecture and interior design and his association with Functional Products came to an end. Heavily influenced by the work of California architects and designers, his architectural work was in the Modernist tradition of open plan interiors, window walls and flat roofs. He moved to Hawaii in 1977. Davina Jackson, Sydney, is the authority on Snelling and his career in the USA and Australia.

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References [<ExternalResource: Powerhouse Museum, 'Chair and stool by Douglas Snelling', Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: Sarah Payne (1 January 1988), '"1947. Functional Products."'. Craft Australia. 1988:1, pps. 61-65>, <ExternalResource: State Library of NSW (1 January 2012), 'Douglas B. Snelling : architectural drawings 1965-1972'.>, <ExternalResource: Davina Jackson (1 January 2012), 'Douglas Snelling'.>, <ExternalResource: "Mary White Pty Ltd." advert. illus. interiors work by Snelling, Architecture and Arts, June 1956, p.22>, <ExternalResource: "Modern Display. The Work of Douglas Snelling and Associates." (illus. display and retail design), Building and Engineering. 24 June 1948, p.27>, <ExternalResource: "Technique of Murals." Decoration and Glass, March-April 1948, pp.18-21. (illustrations of Snelling painting a mural for an "American hostel".>] [<ExternalResource: Powerhouse Museum, 'Chair and stool by Douglas Snelling', Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, NSW.>, <ExternalResource: Sarah Payne (1 January 1988), '"1947. Functional Products."'. Craft Australia. 1988:1, pps. 61-65>, <ExternalResource: State Library of NSW (1 January 2012), 'Douglas B. Snelling : architectural drawings 1965-1972'.>, <ExternalResource: Davina Jackson (1 January 2012), 'Douglas Snelling'.>, <ExternalResource: "Mary White Pty Ltd." advert. illus. interiors work by Snelling, Architecture and Arts, June 1956, p.22>, <ExternalResource: "Modern Display. The Work of Douglas Snelling and Associates." (illus. display and retail design), Building and Engineering. 24 June 1948, p.27>]