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7 workplace necessities for the modern office

Increase productivity and encourage collaboration, all while bringing a new level of ergonomics and wellness to the workplace with these incredible products.

7 workplace necessities for the modern office

The workplace environment, at its core, needs to be ergonomically designed to promote resilience and foster health. Sure, dedicated wellness rooms, nursing rooms for mothers, a well-stocked pantry with healthy snacks, and recreational facilities are fantastic perks. But on a more micro level, office furniture and lighting are the most crucial elements to nail. Here are some great finds for any workplace – big or small.

Public Office Landscape, Herman Miller

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Understanding the importance of collaboration in the workplace and knowing that it happens most often at the desk, Yves Béhar and his team at fuseproject developed Public Office Landscape for Herman Miller. It’s an office furniture system that caters to connection, collaboration and flexibility. Whether it be a collaboration bench at the end of the workstation, or a table, or soft seating, the Public Office Landscape gives a bit of privacy to what’s happening at the end of the workstation, but also keeps the team connected.

Precint Divide, Zenith Design Studio

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As workplaces adapt, flexibility becomes paramount. Always ahead of the curve, Zenith Design Studio presents another stellar product for architects and designers with Precint Divide. This versatile self-supporting freestanding screen provides privacy and style for every space and can help achieve optimum versatility in all office situations. From a functionality perspective, Precint Divide helps to create new areas for working and socialising, demarcating space and shielding workers from visual distractions. Not one to shy away from big statements, Precint Divide is bold and daring in style, available in four standard sizes with a cone-shaped base support. It is fully upholstered and introduces pops of colour and texture into its interior surrounds. Precinct Divide comes in multiple shapes and sizes and is the perfect accompaniment to every office environment, whether the spatial layout is large or small.

Terrain Acoustic Lighting, Luxxboxx

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Acoustic lighting plays a big part in creating properly lit conditions in open offices as well as balanced room acoustics with sound absorption covering all frequencies related to communication. Luxxbox’s Terrain Acoustic Lighting with dimmable LED light sources and embossed acoustic panelling — using the very latest in privacy-enhancing technologies (PET) minimises up to 40 per cent of ambient noise in busy, open offices while combining form and function to visually and acoustically enhance the workspace. A new addition to the brand’s award-winning acoustic lighting range, the embossed linear fixtures add a unique 3D appeal and are available only on Linea and Blade fixtures that come in four lengths and three heights, two patterns (quilting and horizontal stripes) and colours such as Mustard, Sienna, Blue Steel, Earth, Eggshell and Nero. The Casambi Bluetooth controller is optional and POE is available on request. In Singapore, Luxxbox is available at Luxspace Lighting Solutions.

AIRPORT bookcase, Cattelan Italia

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Whether wall-installed or ceiling-hung, AIRPORT modular bookcase is both diverse in functionality and distinctively light in aesthetic. “In fact, it’s perfect as a dividing element of a big space and, thanks to its rich and versatile setting, consisting of wooden shelves and containers, [it] visually increases the space and welcomes the everyday life,” notes Cattelan Italia’s Carlo Rocchetti. Select from brackets and pillars in titanium, bronze, graphite, white or black embossed lacquered steel; shelves and containers in Canaletto walnut, burned oak, embossed graphite, white painted wood or brushed bronze. In Singapore, Cattelan Italia is available at royalinteriors.com.sg

Dressers, Montana Furniture

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A compelling example of the less-is-more Scandinavian movement towards living well is Montana Furniture’s five new and inspired dressers with clean, modern lines and minimalistic features. Created by Peter J Lassen who is the founder, legendary designer and developer of the Montana modular system, the dressers are based on a mathematical and philosophical principle that every piece is infinitely combinable, practical, durable and timeless. The eco-conscious will appreciate that Montana has achieved certification to numerous standards relating to the environment, working environment and workplace safety. In 2019, the company was issued the official EU Ecolabel, guaranteeing sustainable, high-quality furniture that’s not only safe for homes but the environment as well. In Singapore, Montana Furniture is available at Danish Design Co. and P5.

Toboggan Chair Desk, Knoll

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Created as an easy-going, practical work accessory by Antenna Design’s Masamichi Udagawa and Sigi Moeslinger, the Knoll Toboggan Chair Desk meets the needs of focused, shared or teamwork in today’s increasingly social and mobile workplace. The sled-based chair desk with Sustainable Design and Environmental Certification lets users shift right around in the seat. Meanwhile, the back serves as a backrest, armrest or tablet work surface for front, side and rear-facing postures. What’s more, the back, seat and frame can be specified and the lightweight design is easily transportable. In Singapore, Knoll is available at Vanguard Interiors.

Coppice work booth, Steelcase

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To achieve a lot with very little is one of the basic premises of Coppice, a stand-alone single-occupancy work booth from Steelcase. Its meticulous design means that a small number of components can facilitate any number of configurations, and offer varying degrees of privacy depending on the task. Key to this are Coppice’s five panels which can be combined to suit multiple scenarios and provide diverse planning options. A quick and easy way to build a density of private space within a small footprint, its simple, smart design makes power and data integration a straight-forward affair. Cables pass between panels, free to travel horizontally and vertically. Meanwhile its stripped-down palette sees birch plywood panels finished with a natural lacquer, used alongside anthracite pressed polyester felt panels.

Related: MCX Interior lets water guide its fluid design for Hogan Lovells’ Beijing office

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