From phone booths and fully-enclosed systems through to high-backed desking options and chairs – here are eight of the latest furniture pieces that promote privacy in a new age of workplace quietness.
November 2nd, 2018
The tyranny of the open plan office has been widely debated for many years. And in its wake are new forms of office furniture solutions that allow for privacy and small team collaboration. Here are eight picks from Orgatec 2018.
Described as a room within a room, the BuzziBracks is an entire architectural system designed by Alain Gilles for BuzziSpace. Designers can use BuzziBracks as an office within an office with standalone framing, then draped in curtaining to provide that much-needed privacy. In addition, the room can be equipped with add-ons such as tables, desking and accessories. Part office, part perfect agile mobile office – BuzziBracks is the antidote to today’s open-plan spaces.
Jaime Hayon‘s first piece of contract furniture, and Fritz Hansen‘s latest, is Plenum™ – a high-back sofa system that caters to individual and communal needs, and to concentration, collaboration or relaxation. Says Hayon, “In creating Plenum™, the overall objective was to challenge the concept of traditional office furniture and create a feeling of home.” The series consists of a one, two and three-seater sofa and has features such as power plugs, USB ports and mounted or separate tables.
Kettal is best known for its outdoor products, but this year at Orgatec the Spanish brand debuted new products and materials that have been adapted to the design and functionality of office spaces. The Kettal Office Pavilions give shape to large open spaces – be they indoors or out. Their movable walls allow the creation of secluded rooms and improved acoustics. A variety of colour and material finishes are available for walls and ceilings, including aluminium, wood, fabric and glass. An integrated automation feature is also available.
Designed by British duo PearsonLloyd for Alias, the Eleven High Back Work is part of a collection that now includes a useful high-back option. This versatile addition makes it suitable for many different scenarios where privacy is a necessity – office, airport and hotel for example. An integrated work surface can be fixed with a sofa option, or a height adjustable desk, making it like a modern-day walled-in office space.
A fully-enclosed pod option, Framery offers plenty of variety, but the newly released O Video Conference system is set up to allow instant conferencing capability. Bringing the same technology as seen in other Framery products, the demountable and adaptable pods are a welcome addition to any overly noisy office space.
The Dutch company has not one but several products that specifically speak to the need for office privacy. All of which come with a cheeky reverence that would make them feel right at home in cool tech office, or anything in between. One standout is the EarChair designed by Studio Makkink & Bey, which envelopes its users with large side panels, or ears. These fully upholstered panels help to block out peripheral distraction, while also helping to quiet the office noise for those wanting a spot to concentrate.
Another product from the Prooff range that brings some much needed privacy, but for a group scenario this time is the Niche designed by AXIA Design. The Niche is pop-up meeting space that can accommodate four people and comes fully upholstered with a roof. The result is a spot to undertake a quick meeting, or escape from the typical distractions of a bustling office.
Wanting to offer places for different types of encounters, sometimes private, sometimes casual. Jaan Silent designed by EOOS for Walter Knoll is about creating an oasis in open space. Comfortably fitting into any stylish office, Jaan Silent creates private islands of respite. The design incorporates a sofa and with high-backed screening for tailored retreats – essentially places for concentration or communication.
Knowing the value of an ambient office, German company Dauphin has brought its 50 years of experience together to create the new generation of office – the Human Space Cube. Integrating glass and panelling, the Cube (designed by Bosse Design) comes in three variations – telephone, dialogue and the new Human Space Cube 4.0. Bringing a modular design, the Human Space Cube 4.0 can be configured and installed in next to no time.
Catch all the latest from Orgatec 2018 here.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
Create a configuration to suit your needs with this curved collection.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
By adding Muuto to its roster as Singapore’s only retailer, XTRA not only celebrates the enduring appeal of Scandinavian design – it heralds a whole new perspective on its universally appealing legacy.
Zenith Singapore celebrated seven years in style, transforming their showroom into an Aussie Beach Barbeque haven and bringing around 150 members of Singapore’s A&D community together for an unforgettable night of beachy vibes.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Continuing our new series on the design enthusiasts who work in all sorts of different roles across the industry, we hear from Innerspace’s Creative Collaborator and State Manager NSW.
The brief for the new Government Agency office in Canberra was a challenging combination of high performance and high concept. The Mill Architecture + Design turned to Milliken to bring the ambitious project to life.