DAMN°59 magazine / PRODUCTIVITY: OFFICE
Life at Work We work hard. Of course we do. But we also work in a very different way than we did only five years ago. DAMN° has kept an eye on office layouts and workplace design, to see where the new ideas are heading. The vision is of a social office that we understand, an office that doesn’t completely abandon the traditional boundaries but includes innovations that enable us to enjoy life and work in a more spontaneous, seamless way. PATRIZIA COGGIOLA
SITTING What is it that makes a work chair a great one? It’s not just ergonomics or the best support. It has to promote movement, hence creativity and well being. Furthermore, there’s a need for erasing the boundaries between areas for meeting and solo working, connecting the individual with the group and evolving the crossover to lounge chairs, quickly dissolving boundaries and categories.
OLLE GYLLANG
Head of Design Strategy at Propeller Design Kinnarps’s new range of furniture, Fields, was unveiled at the Stockholm Furniture Fair this year and is now being launched in shops the world over. The new modular range of sofas, tables, screens, and easy chairs allows for the creation of an active workplace. Designed by Olle Gyllang of Stockholm-based Propeller Design, the system has been developed in collaboration with Kinnarps, achieving a large variety of furniture pieces that suit the different activities carried out during a working day. “For activity-based work environments and with a vast range of different materials, colours and accessories, it is possible to customise and adapt Fields to any space-planning solution. The basic concept is a modular, flexible system in which functions and parts can be combined depending on requirements, conditions, and available space. We have created the building blocks and options so that the architect can step in and use these in the design of high-quality functional environments”, says Gyllang. Easy chairs, sofas, tables and screens are mixed with exciting accessories and smart solutions to create a well thought-out, holistic solution, bringing together shared and private areas, erasing the boundaries between places for meetings and those for solo working, connecting the individual with the group as well as making it possible for all the staff to find their own space in which to work and be happy. kinnarps.se
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JULIA LÄUFER AND MARCUS KEICHEL Designers for Lammhults
This year during the Stockholm Furniture Fair, Swedish office-furniture company Lammhults presented the Penne chair, introduced as a hallmark both in regard to material innovation and aesthetics, due to the fact that it’s a heavy-duty wooden chair made from a new kind of wooden material. The legs are composed of pressed veneer in tubular form, allowing the chair to be used in harsh surroundings even though it’s essentially a wooden chair. At the same time, it is stackable and unexpectedly light, rendering it suitable for schools and public environments. “Penne conveys a pleasant sensation because it is an innovative wooden chair made out of a new material, and it’s still in aesthetic balance”, explain German designer-duo Julia Läufer and Marcus Keichel. “Penne is the attempt to combine the iconicity of Scandinavian chair design with the requirements of the modern contract furniture market. In accordance with the Lammhults tradition, the chair is sensed to become both an iconic piece of furniture and a solid industrial product at the same time.” lammhults.se laeuferkeichel.de
BULO Léon Stynen 58, the chair designed by Belgian architect Léon Stynen in 1958, has now been reactivated by Bulo — not re-edited, not copied, but replayed. It references Expo 58, the World’s Fair in Brussels, which remains a symbol of the humanistic modernism portrayed in Le Corbusier’s and Loewy’s utopias, the latter having been an architect and city planner for more than half-a-century in Belgium. The chair’s design embodies a synthesis between temporality and a humanistic approach to architecture. This new version comes with a steel frame in chromed champagne, or black or white lacquer, with a moulded shell seat of beech multiplex in a natural finish, rosewood stain, or black or white lacquer. The chairs are stackable by four. Léon Stynen (1899-1990) was the son of a sculptor and decorative artist. His contemporaries included V. Bourgeois, L. H. De Koninck, H. Hoste, and E. Van Steenbergen. The immediate and perfect use he made of the latest technical and building developments of his time are also manifest in his contribution to the construction of large multi-storey buildings in Belgium during the 1960s. Based in Mechelen, Belgium, Bulo has activated collaborations with various external designers, including Vincent Van Duysen, Bataille Ibens, Jean Nouvel, Luc Vincent, and Ann Demeulemeester. bulo.com
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MARCELO ALEGRE
Designer and Founder of Alegre Design The R&D team at Spanish design company Actiu, together with industrial design studio Alegre Design, has created TNK Flex, an executive chair which anticipates, in an intuitive way, the needs of the user, adapting itself to the morphology and movements of the human body, adjusting the backrest and seat as if it were a second skin. Haptic interaction is made possible via sensory perception received through contact that occurs with any part of the human body and which is closely linked to movement. “The seat has been designed based on a similar technology to that employed in lorry cabins: a suspended seat that provides a feeling of weightlessness. Air chambers are installed in the foam of the seat which facilitate compression and decompression, so the seat houses, absorbs, and adapts its shape to the specific needs of the user, creating a sense of balance and well-being”, claims Marcelo Alegre. “For this comfortable and stable seat, we have created an intelligent backrest, operating in an orbital way and thereby adjusting all movements without the user having to activate any mechanism.” The seat is the starting point, and from there the user is supported by a totally adjustable backrest (height, inclination, torque) that interprets their movements and stays one step ahead — a soft dance that provides total freedom in daily work manoeuvres, with the user efficiently maintaining the correct ergonomic posture at all times. actiu.com alegredesign.es
BROSS Enzo Berti Designed by Enzo Berti, the BREAK chair has always been a bestseller at Italian company Bross, owing its success to enveloping lines and a sophisticated decorative backrest cover, punctuated as it is by thin vertical seams in matching tones. A proportionate crafted wooden shell, covered in leather or fabric, makes its design vivid yet timeless and fitting for lounge areas. bross-italy.com
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MARKUS JEHS AND JÜRGEN LAUB Designers for Wilkhahn
Modern office environments need to offer a diverse variety of layout opportunities in which people can interact. These range from conference rooms to openplan meeting spaces to canteens, where working, eating, drinking, and partying occur in the same place. For Wilkhahn, Stuttgart-based Markus Jehs and Jürgen Laub have come up with a coordinated chair and table range called Occo. In developing the seat shell, they wanted to achieve two main objectives: maximum comfort and stackability. “The design challenge lies in creating vastly different atmospheres that are united by a deliberate and immediately discernible joint-identity. Thanks to the special shapes of the recesses in the back and sides of the shell, the seat itself is very rigid, but due to its shape and the different thicknesses of the material, the back is exceptionally flexible. The characteristic contours of the seat and back suggest the letters that the chair owes its name to.” Viewed from the front and rear, it resembles an O. From the side, the lines created by the horizontal seat, the upward sweep of the armrest, and the contours of the backrest appear to form a C. “Therefore, on the one hand, the chair suggests the reassurance of a protective shell, which is particularly important in open-plan spaces. On the other hand, it also looks exceptionally airy, lightweight, and transparent. It’s also easy to take hold of and reposition, or to stack.” In the four-legged, chrome-plated tubular steel frame version, up to five Occo chairs can be stacked on top of one another. wilkhahn.de jehs-laub.com
FRITZ HANSEN Architects Lundgaard & Tranberg Fritz Hansen furnishings form part of the interior design of SEB Bank & Pension HQ in Copenhagen, a project by architects Lundgaard & Tranberg, with interior design by Mtre Architects. In creating the Danish headquarters of the Swedish bank, the goal was to house the newly-employed staff and incorporate the characteristics of transparency and informality. The space features exquisite materials and is flooded with natural light. There’s a clear connection between the exterior and the interior by way of the exposed concrete columns, and a serene atmosphere is derived from the organic shape of the drapes, along with the chairs, plants, and wooden floor. SEB wanted to build a bridge between the outside and inside and to create a working environment focused on quality. The flexible, transparent design of the building structure is emphasised by materials like concrete, steel, glass, and wood. Contributing to the Nordic look and feel, the choice of furniture reflects the core idea of a modern organisation. Both building and furniture are designed to last, with only a minimum of maintenance required. By combining highly-refined furniture and an honest building structure, the total impression is of a distinct Nordic aesthetic heritage. Designed to reflect SEB’s workplace culture, the premises provides a stimulating and vibrant environment that helps attract and retain the right kind of talent. fritzhansen.com / ltarkitekter.dk / mtre.dk
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ALBERTO LIEVORE, MANEL MOLINA, AND JEANNETTE ALTHERR
Designers and Founders of Lievore Altherr Molina Focused on drawing people into workplaces that foster social connection and creative collaboration, the Montara650 collection was created by the Coalesse Design Group and Lievore Altherr Molina. The pieces are a refined addition to the casual-meeting setting. Classically designed, the sculpted chairs, stools, and loungers are paired with simple pedestal tables that are also power-ready. Montara650 fills informal spaces with café-style character and provides members of the A&D community with a highly customisable set of design options. The durable, oak-veneered plywood shell of the stackable chairs is available in five subtle stains and can be upholstered fully or in a unique, three-quarter style that enhances comfort while maintaining the warmth of the wood. The seating is available with a sled base or with four legs, with arms or without, in trivalent chrome or painted to match the office palette. The sturdy, elegant Montara650 table comes in multiple heights and shapes and can be finished in any laminate or veneer. An optional PowerPod, providing six power outlets in one convenient, tabletop package, further expands the application choices. Commenting on the collection, the designers say “Montara650 offers a unique addition to the workplace due to its great capacity for customisation. The inspiration for the design came from abstracting the shape of a seated human figure and transforming it into a chair that is iconic and transmits a particular personality.” Lievore Altherr Molina adds: “This turned into a fairly neutral, balanced shape that was still iconic and recognisable, and that transmits its character.” The collection’s capacity for customisation through various options, surface materials, and upholstery makes it a versatile and inspired social solution for today’s workplace. These classical yet casual designs are infused with a comfort and craft that provide a seamless fit both in existing spaces and the vital social spaces in-between.
MAGIS Naoto Fukasawa In reference to Substance, the chair he designed for Magis, Naoto Fukasawa says: “I wanted to try working on a chair where there is a simple cross-junction of two sets of U-shaped legs. Then I wanted to put a simple shell on top. Combining the bending details of the legs and the bottom curve of the shell creates such a friendly feeling. It is usual to have a chair with a shell and legs that extend off the shell, whereas the bending detail on Substance evokes a fresh quality.” naotofukasawa.com magisdesign.com
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AC O U ST I C Since the boundaries between professional and domestic environments are quickly dissolving and technological innovation is enabling new and more mobile lifestyles, there is more and more need to recreate mobile working solutions, with modular structures based on traditional domestic screen partitions, adding acoustic, visual, and protective comfort for those at work.
JULIA HOMRIGHAUSEN Designer at Thonet
Sound insulation, room separation, bulletin board, and storage: these are all the functions that Thonet’s CANOR provides. The new acoustic partition, presented for the first time at Orgatec 2016, reduces noise levels due to its special upholstery and textile cover, enabling undisturbed and concentrated working. In open-plan offices or co-working spaces, it acts as a divider between private living and working areas, or as a bulletin board for conference rooms (both sides of the upholstery can be used for the purpose). In the home office, the acoustic partition is the solution for various requirements in day-to-day work life, offering plenty of added value. Due to its light weight, CANOR is also easy to move around, guaranteeing high flexibility. Thanks to a generously large shelf, the furniture unit provides storage for folders, documents, plants, or knick-knacks. “The influence of acoustics on modern interior design has been relevant for quite some time”, comments Julia Homrighausen. “Of course, we wanted to seize this versatile product segment as well. After thorough market research we decided to move away from the very technical and neutral design of the acoustic partitions that are widely available on the market. I came up with the idea to create a product with additional functions so that it could be used interactively and in many different situations. It is more than a mere room divider, it’s an individual piece of furniture. This is what inspired me to chose this particular shape for our new product.” Founded in 1819, Thonet has since become famous for its iconic No. 14 chair (1859), the so-called Vienna Coffee House Chair, which introduced the pioneering technique of bending solid beechwood for the first time, so enabling mass production. The second milestone in design history was the tubular steel furniture by famous Bauhaus architects Mart Stam, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Marcel Breuer in the 1930s. Today, Thonet collaborates with renowned national and international designers..
FANTONI The Fantoni Research Centre investigates the evolving world of work, including its sociological aspects, and responds to the need for both a social life and privacy in the workplace. With increasing frequency, open-plan offices require small meeting areas or closed spaces for privacy. Acoustic Room creates an acoustically-protected haven inside an openplan office or collective environment, for meetings and other situations requiring particular focus. A box within a box, comprising two modules of different dimensions, creates islands within high-traffic spaces. The module consists of 4akustik sound-absorbent panels, a high-performance acoustic product from Fantoni’s Acoustic Panelling division. The Fantoni stand at the Salone del Mobile presented a full line of acoustic solutions, underscoring the versatility of its products. 4akustik is based on the tried-and-tested panel that possesses high sound-deadening performance, but with a new formula that enables top health and safety performance to be achieved. Furthermore, it conforms to the F 4-star rating of the JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards), considered the most stringent in the world, relating to ultra-low formaldehyde content and therefore safeguarding the environment. fantoni.it
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STAFFAN VIRKE Architect at Codesign
Architect Staffan Virke of Swedish studio Codesign has recently overseen the renovation of Grillska Gymnasiet, a school in Marievik, Stockholm. Codesign was commissioned to rebrand the space, and with 8000 square-metres to cover and a limited budget, it was a challenging brief. The idea was to nestle study zones within the bigger spaces and to give them a specific identity. As the school was divided into several floors, Codesign created a palette of colours and shapes. This makes it easier for the students and staff orient themselves within the building. BAUX wood-wool tiles help to lower reflected sound, creating quiet zones for study. Reactions from students and staff alike have been really positive, the study zones are popular, and the students appreciate the thought that has been put into designing their workspace.
“We used specific shapes and colours to distinguish each floor. This also helped us to create zones within the main space. The building looks very different now! BAUX panels were the perfect material for the project, as they are functional in terms of sound absorption while also being graphic and visually attractive, and they’re cost-effective too. The many panel variations on offer helped us realise our vision of making unique zones within the bigger space. Having just taken over a former school building, the client hired us to redo the interior, which was really needed. It was a large, grey, commercial space, and a bit boring. We wanted to make it attractive for the students, so they’d enjoy being there and hopefully stick around at school more.”. codesign.se baux.se
ARTEMIDE Giovanni Giacobone and Massimo Roj Eggboard, a suspension lamp by Giovanni Giacobone and Massimo Roj for Artemide, offers high-efficiency sound control and lighting. Its soundabsorption properties are obtained by means of a special sinusoid design on its bottom surface, together with the use of a sound-absorbing material. Two versions allow the dosage of light to be adjusted. Multiple appliances suspended at different heights and in different colours create scenic architectural and lighting compositions.The quality of light and of sound control is ideal for a variety of application fields, from office and education to hospitality and entertainment. “Eggboard originates from a simple idea: combining acoustic comfort and visual comfort in one device, capable of helping create an utterly comfortable ambience”, say the designers. artemide.com
CAIMI BREVETTI Lorenzo Damiani Designed by Lorenzo Damiani for Caimi Brevetti, Blade uses patented Snowsound® technology. The extremely thin, incredibly lightweight panels are composed of materials of varying density, making it possible to obtain a selective level of absorption for different frequencies and thus optimise the acoustics of a given environment. “I wanted to create a continuously changing, dynamic modular system whereby bent metal shelves as thin as a knife-blade anchor the sound-absorbent panels to the walls, says the designer. “In this way, you can create an infinite number of compositions that frame the objects on the actual shelves. Blade is an independent shelving system that at the same time can correct the acoustics, thanks to Snowsound technology.” caimi.com
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M OVING Today, work is no longer constrained by space, time, or place. Work just happens. There’s a decided shift towards more informal, flexible workstations, developed with the sole purpose of creating multifunctional and enjoyable working environments.
MARKUS BENZ
CEO and Managing Director of Walter Knoll At Orgatec 2016, Walter Knoll exhibited innovations and interiors for executive offices, including conferencing and consulting facilities, open workspaces, and public seating, based on the concept of Leadership & Identity. “Our working world is changing”, says Markus Benz, CEO of Walter Knoll. “The design of a workspace is becoming even more significant. Because the furnishings play a major role in a company’s success and identity — modern and open, formal and informal, with freelance work and teamwork — the interior stands for its culture and identity and is thus always an expression of how it sees itself as well as the esteem in which it holds its customers.” The newest Walter Knoll products that aim to promote a sense of corporate leadership and identity are the Keypiece Management Desk, a modern, inviting table top that seems to be floating on four beams of light; Foster 512, a new masterpiece in the firm’s collaboration with Foster and Partners that dominates free interior landscapes in the form of an upholstered bench with straight and clear-cut lines; and Tadeo Conferencing, a table made of solid wood and excellent, rather archaic craftsmanship. walterknoll.de
PINCH London-based design studio Pinch, founded by Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon, launched four new pieces at this year’s Salone del Mobile. Among them was the Menton desk. Exhibited in walnut with a bordeaux leather top, Pinch has worked to retain a sleek and crisp silhouette whilst at the same time incorporating a sharp V-support in the under-frame. Appearing simple and light in outline, the desk is a thoroughly modern piece, featuring fully developed, integrated cable management, with a hidden flex concealed in the leg to eliminate the presence of ugly wires. Menton also incorporates an accessible space at the back in which to store an adapter and centralise all chargers and plugs. It also features sensitively crafted and detailed components, from the grommet lids to the sculpted storage tray that provides the perfect spot for charging a phone. pinchdesign.com
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JOHN SMALL
Director of Industrial Design at Steelcase Steelcase has recently introduced the Brody WorkLounge, a space-planning tool to help engender focus and concentration, designed to offer a reprieve from distractions. “To be human is to be distracted. We’re not undisciplined or scatterbrained; we’re overwhelmed”, says John Small, director of Industrial Design at Steelcase, about the idea and intention behind Brody. “Maintaining focus is a costly problem for workers and students, so we turned to neuroscience to help us better understand how the brain works and sustains attention. We think the workplace can help us think better.” Researchers from Steelcase observed that finding a flow of attention and focus seems to be nearly impossible in today’s busy workplaces and university environments. Research reveals that in a typical day, workers and students switch tasks every 3 minutes, get interrupted every 11 minutes, and take 23 minutes to get back on task. The Brody WorkLounge creates a cocoon-like space that prevents visual distractions, providing privacy and an enhanced sense of psychological security for workers and students in open environments such as workplaces or libraries, by thoughtfully integrating power sources, ergonomic comfort, personal storage space, and lighting. “Brody creates a comfortable micro-environment that makes it easier to focus your attention, get into the flow, and get work done”, continues Small. “When workers and students can control outside stimuli, they can focus better and get into flow faster.” A smart alternative to enclaves, Brody can help organisations transform under-utilised, in-between spaces into coveted destinations. Furthermore, its ergonomics cradle the body in a reclined position, supporting the upper and lower back, while the personally adjustable work surface holds the technology at eye-level to reduce neck and shoulder strain.
TECNO Centro Progetti Tecno with Daniele del Missier In 2016, Tecno launched Clavis. Designed by Centro Progetti Tecno with Daniele del Missier, the project sprang from an instantaneous, evolved gesture for enabling agile, flexible, and adaptable contemporary work. Clavis is a new table system that by means of a patented coupling system and a limited set of industrially-manufactured components allows for immediate assembly. Configurations range from single desks to multiple workstations to standing work positions. An expression of never-ending technological elegance, Clavis’s structural elements are reminiscent of modernist architecture at the beginning of the 20th century. tecnospa.com
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MICHAEL FRIED
Managing Director of Sales, Marketing, and Innovation at Bene Bene recently introduced three new product lines for optimised teamwork. As the boundaries between fixed workstations and communal areas become increasingly blurred, focused work and communicative exchange are more seamlessly blended. Bene is offering solutions to this trend with its product lines FRAME_S, NOOXS Think Tank, and SETTLE. “These product families inspire room settings for teamwork and invite collaboration, thereby creating a solid foundation for innovation”, says Michael Fried. Functional frameworks offer a high degree of privacy and personal organisation and can be used to form well-shielded zones for teams of three to six people, as open niches or enclosed meeting areas in open plan offices. A pioneer in workspace design, Bene has also helped shape the world’s first ever office building to be produced using a 3D printing process, a project announced by the Dubai Future Foundation in June. Bene was responsible for the interior design and concept development of the Office of the Future. “The project forms part of a comprehensive strategy presenting novel solutions to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Bene was able to win the client over as a partner for the interior design of the ambitious building, with an innovative concept that precisely met the requirements — a futuristic scheme that promotes completely new work processes. The furnished premises will be used as a temporary office for the team at during the construction of the Museum of the Future”, says Fried. “With our contribution to the Office of the Future, Bene has positioned itself as an international provider of inspiring working environments, and these environments can have a decisive influence on a company’s economic success.”
BERNHARDT DESIGN Hines Fischer The Hug desk by Hines Fischer for Bernhardt Design takes the edge off monotonous office environments. With its precise geometric form and curved silhouette, Hug combines simple elements, offering a sense of comfort and softness to modern, progressive spaces. Hug is the first product by Fischer in collaboration with Bernhardt Design, established in 1980 by the 127-yearold Bernhardt Furniture Company, which continues to be a leader and innovator in furniture design and production. “A desk or table is usually about productivity, speed, or efficiency; as opposed to a lounge chair, which is about comfort, both physical and emotional. So I thought, what if I switched-around the usual formula and designed a desk that was warm and welcoming?”, informs Fischer. Hug features a fully upholstered shell with rounded corners that embrace the work-surface and are soft to the touch. The smooth contours of the desk enhance its aesthetic appeal while offering the functional benefits of sound absorption and privacy. bernhardtdesign.com hinesfischer.com
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SAM HECHT AND KIM COLIN Designers and Founders of Industrial Facility
Industrial Facility, the London studio of designers Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, has recently announced the launch of two different collections dedicated to the new social office: one is Plex, modular lounge seating, which was presented by Herman Miller during Neocon 2016; the second is Run, for American company Emeco. “Plex accommodates the ease of flexible grouping, with a compact seat that’s designed for individual comfort”, say the pair. “It is intended to support office, education, and healthcare settings. A simple hook allows a setting to be rearranged, turning a communal gathering area into a lecture theatre. It has been engineered using Herman Miller’s extensive knowledge of ergonomics, anthropometrics, and comfort, and has super-seat technology in its webbing.” Run is a collection of recycled furniture. As the designers comment, “It is our first collection for Emeco: tables, benches, chairs, and some accessories inspired by the collective, congenial atmosphere around public furniture like canteen tables, park benches, and library shelves. These have the ability to feel natural if used by one person or shared by many. They are pure utility, resilient in material and typology. Made from simple, uniform planks specified simply by length of material, in either aluminium, ash, or cedar wood. Run is shaped to acknowledge the benefits of being around others. Simple, resilient, useful.” industrialfacility.co.uk emeco.net hermanmiller.com
KUKKA Rona Meyuchas-Koblenz Founded by designer Rona Meyuchas-Koblenz, Kukka offers a comprehensive range of furniture and home accessories for the contemporary home-work environment. Collections range from Kukka’s in-house-designed table lighting and stationery, to a desk, chairs, and shelving by external designers and brands. Tonton desk & chair by Eva Craenhals embodies quality craftsmanship and simple, understated styling. It is crafted in Europe using natural beechwood from Moravian forests and plywood folded on the original Thonet moulds. kukka.co.uk
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Lamy has been operational for a full 50 years. The company has therefore deemed it the time right for bringing out a new version of its of its trademark writing utensil, at once an appropriate and daring gesture. The Lamy 2000 now has produced an offspring in the form of the Lamy 2000 M, a very special pen befitting the occasion.
THINKING TOOLS – DESIGN AS PROCESS Lamy’s wares are on show at the MAK in Frankfurt, taking visitors behind-the-scenes of the writing-utensil world and providing insights into the design process as a complex interplay between the company and the designers, product developers, and marketing team. To this end, sketches, models, and prototypes vividly retrace the long path from design to product. Lamy is now celebrating the 50th anniversary of its trademark writing utensil, an item crucial to the market at various levels. When Manfred Lamy took over his father’s business in 1962, he set out to position the brand for the future, developing a fundamental approach to the gamut of functional objects influenced by design paragons like the Bauhaus and companies such as Braun and Olivetti. A collaboration with Gerd A. Müller ushered in a new era of design at Lamy. Between 1963 and 1966, Müller, a former designer at Braun, created the Lamy 2000, a completely novel fountain pen. With its clear, formal language, it departed radically from the stodgy look of writing utensils common up to then. Still produced today, the Lamy 2000 is an icon, featuring in the collections of many major design museums.
terial and therefore demanding a new form of processing technology. “Makrolon was very fashionable at the time, but was difficult to process. We wanted the fountain pen to be matte but the surface kept becoming shiny again.” The Lamy 2000 marked a breakthrough for the small Heidelberg-based writing-instrument manufacturer. “The model was more successful than we had anticipated. We became the market leader within a short space of time.” That pen defined the design guidelines that Lamy still applies today: functionality has uppermost priority and in design terms leads to a consistent reduction to the essentials; no decoration and no gimmicks. As an independent family business, the brand has been associated with Heidelberg since its founding in 1930, which guarantees a consistently high quality: Made in Germany. With an annual production of over seven-million writing instruments and a turnover of ninety-million euros, Lamy is not only the current market leader in Germany but an internationally sought-after brand.
“At the time, it was a courageous decision to make a product like that”, explains Manfred Lamy, company owner. “The Lamy 2000 broke away from the norm: a new type of pen, it had a very modern shape compared to the other products in existence.” Its unconventional appearance was enhanced by a combination of matte stainless steel and Makrolon® polycarbonate, then a new ma-
Fifty years after its introduction onto the market, Lamy has reinterpreted this design icon. The Lamy 2000 M black amber is being released in a strictly limited special edition, to mark the anniversary year. Thinking Tools – Design as Process: On the Creation of Writing Utensils is at the MAK in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, until 29 January 2017. museumangewandtekunst.de lamy.com
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CHRISTOPH NIEMANN Illustrator and Artist
Christoph Niemann’s greatest skill is to extract the unfamiliar from the familiar and discover totally new things in everyday life. At Lamy, he studied the activity of writing itself and the writing instruments it produces. Niemann has published his view on these findings in The New Yorker (for which he regularly designs the cover), as well as in The New York Times Magazine and many German publications. His works have received numerous awards from the Art Directors Club, LEAD Awards, and the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). He is a member of the Art Directors Club Hall Of Fame. “The fascinating thing about my visit to the Lamy factory in Heidelberg was that the manufacturing process for these writing instruments can be tracked, in the true sense of the word: step-by-step, one step after the other. I found it fascinating how the pens are tested to ensure a consistent flow of ink. They are clamped in a machine that makes automatic circular motions while an endless roll of paper is passed underneath. This creates dense, mechanically drawn spirals. You can detect even the smallest irregularity in the moiré pattern or grid that emerges as a result of the crossing of the lines. These technical drawings, which only serve quality-control purposes, are actually very beautiful. I was particularly fascinated by the Tumbler
2000 device, a rounded metal box onto which a net is connected by mechanical arms. This is the equivalent of a handbag, contrived by engineers in Switzerland. A mobile phone, a purse, and a fountain pen are put inside and then shaken around for three days. This technically-refined simulation of something as ordinary as a woman’s handbag really enchants me, it has poetry. For me, the dedication with which something so everyday is created is symbolic of Lamy.” Revealing how crucial the role of the pen is to the process of creativity, Niemann says, “I believe in a circular process of devising, drawing, seeing, and deciding. In order to evaluate an image, you first have to take it from your mind and place it on paper. Then it goes from the eyes back into the mind. When you go through this cycle some 20 times, something interesting happens, with any luck — things you hadn’t previously planned that surprise you. I try to find those things which I do not yet know.” christophniemann.com
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Research shows that today’s workers spend an average of 50% of their time in meetings. This is too much not to be used profitably. In particular, meeting spaces and their technology should adapt to the needs of those involved so that they can communicate effectively. Its symmetrical design makes USM Kitos Meeting a valuable communication tool and work table, multipurpose and accessible all round. With a few simple steps, meetings can be held spontaneously — standing-up for short meetings, for example. Optional flaps on both sides can be opened both inwards and outwards, ensuring that network and power cables can be plugged in quickly and powered properly. With these new products, USM focuses on the needs of the staff, offering solutions to questions raised about the work environment of the future. Last year, to celebrate 50 years of the iconic USM Modular Furniture Haller, the company launched project50, an initiative aiming to encourage a new generation of creators from various countries to explore the concept of modularity. At the core of the project was rethinking the modular.
THOMAS DIENES
Head of Product Development at USM “The main principle within USM is modularity”, says Thomas Dienes, who directs Product Development at Swiss company USM. “Each product we are developing is in some way modular. In addition, it’s customary for USM to ensure that each new product matches the existing range. These two premises were key factors in developing the USM Inos Box as they allow for numerous product combinations and give the customer room to find the desired configuration.” USM Kitos M, a desk with mechanical height-adjustment, was presented by USM during the last edition of Milan Design week. The USM Kitos family was also extended with a second new product, USM Kitos Meeting. “USM offers solutions to the challenges we face at work today: keeping the staff healthy, changeable work situations, and energy efficiency. Kitos M is the first purely mechanical height-adjustable desk. It uses a tension spring which outlasts conventional gaspressure springs many times over, and is easy to adjust, requiring no excessive force.”
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LENSVELT During the last Salone del Mobile in Milan, Lensvelt presented a new series of office furniture called the Boring Collection, the result of a collaboration with Space Encounters Office for Architecture. The latter is an international multidisciplinary team of young architects based in Amsterdam. These designs by Gijs Baks, Joost Baks, Remi Versteeg, and Stijn de Weerd are abstract, autonomous, and uncomplicated. Boring Collection was conceived and developed out of a dissatisfaction with the appearance of affordable contract furniture. The standard look of contemporary office furishings is pretty much dictated by legislation and therefore often out of keeping with the rest of the interior and surroundings. Boring Collection — down to the last detail — displays a modest, soft grey colour, and all the shapes are archetypical, straightforward, and discrete, with only one goal: to draw the eye to what actually matters: work. The series consists of a task chair, a visitor chair, an acoustic panel, a low and a high cabinet, and four types of desk, among which is a standing desk. Furthermore, there’s a Boring bin as well as a Boring clock, which, true to office culture, only shows the numbers of the liberating moment. lensvelt.nl space-encounters.eu
ZEITRAUM Kaschkasch At this year’s edition of Orgatec, Zeitraum presented the RAIL furniture system. A versatile solution for modern and flexible applications in the office and at home, RAIL is designed by Kaschkasch. This modular system offers a range of connectable tables for structuring spaces in offices, with jointless table tops and movable trestles defining its atelier character. Quickly and easily extendable, RAIL allows for functional, personalised workplaces that are also transferrable to the home: in a few simple steps, a conference table can turn into a dining table. zeitraum-moebel.de kaschkasch.com
KOKUYO Nendo At Orgatec, Nendo presented its Rolling Workspace, designed for Kokuyo. Redefining the square whiteboard, a common fixture in every office, the element can create an environment that encourages creativity: a circular whiteboard to be rolled around freely in the office or placed against the wall. Moreover, linked in a spiral form or spread out in a radial form, it connects to desks, benches, and high counters, thanks to the slits contained therein. This whiteboard can also be effortlessly fixed into place as a divider. And the reverse side has a fabric finish, serving as a panel with sound-absorbing properties. nendo.jp kokuyo.com
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VITRA Konstantin Grcic As part of this year’s London Design Festival, Vitra created the Vitra Pop-up Office & Lounge whereby a two-storey space in Shoreditch was transformed into a dedicated co-working office and lounge. The pop-up office offered an inviting, community-like environment, encouraging visitors to sample a productive, creative, and relaxed workplace. The ground floor of the office was populated by clusters of Hack tables and Allstar chairs, both designed by Konstantin Grcic. Visitors could also experience for the first time the new Stool-Tool developed by Grcic and Vitra. The Stool-Tool resembles a monolithic sculpture and has many user options, being suited to presentation venues and mid-floor zones, workshops, meeting areas, and otherwise unused corners and niches. vitra.com Konstantin Grcic on the Stool-Tool Photo: Florian Böhm © Vitra
BUZZISPACE Jonas Van Put BuzziSpace presented its vision of the workplace in The Smart Co-Working Lobby, a special area at the Orgatec fair in Cologne. Homeliness, innovation, and well-being took centre stage at the experience-based BuzziSpace stand. Co-working, consultation, interaction, relaxation, and socialising are made possible by the latest products by designers Gerd Couckhuyt, Alain Gilles, Jonas Van Put, Sas Adriaenssens, 13&9, and DUM OFFICE. The fluorescent yellow BuzziJungle by up-and-coming Belgian talent Jonas Van Put reflects BuzziSpace’s vision of the social office, a space that completely abandons the traditional boundaries of the workplace. BuzziJungle users can interact with each other — for example, by climbing, chilling in the lounge, or holding meetings in the raised work-lounge area. A creative solution for conventional meeting rooms. buzzi.space
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COLÉ Emmanuel Gallina The Tapparelle Cabinet by Emmanuel Gallina for Italian design label Colé, belongs to a collection that explores the traditional technique of turning office furniture that’s no longer in use into soft and unusual home furniture. The base of the cabinet is of solid oak and the structure and shelves are of lacquered natural oak, featuring a double backdrop to hide the oak sliding shutters. Briccola-ge, alternatively, is a micro-desk solution designed by Miki Astori, who sees the corner as a mistreated part of the home. “Being in a corner means to be in a blind alley with no way out. In each situation or culture, the corner is avoided and never duly considered...”, says Miki Astori, describing Briccola-ge as a small console table for transient moments. coleitalia.com emmanuel-gallina.com mikiastori.com
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KARAKTER Fondazione Achille Castiglioni Fondazione Achille Castiglioni in Milan has announced a new chapter that divulges the work of the architect in whose name it exists. Young brand Karakter Copenhagen, one of the new discoveries at Salone 2016, has re-edited several archive pieces: Trio (2) and Comodo (3) (1991 and 1988, designed with Giancarlo Pozzi), Libreria Pensile hanging shelves (1957, with his brother Pier Giacomo Castiglioni), and Lungangolo (1) (1991), complementary items with a discreet presence, as well as simplicity and clean lines. The heirs of architect Giancarlo Pozzi donated the rights to sell the object he co-designed, in support of the Foundation. The Danish company has resuscitated Achille Castiglioni’s furniture items, among which are those pieces dedicated to a timeless, ambient office. fondazioneachillecastiglioni.it karakter-copenhagen.com
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GHIDINI Nika Zupanc Nika Zupanc designed the desk set Take Me to Miami for the new Ghidini 1961 collection presented at Galleria Rossana Orlandi during Salone 2016, part of a group of approximately 40 pieces, from larger objects like chairs and tables to smaller homeware items including napkin holders and vases. For more than 50 years, Ghidini Bosco of Villa Carcina in the Italian province of Brescia, has excelled in exclusive commissioned works in brass. Stefano Giovannoni, international designer and the brand’s art director, has gathered around him a mixed bag of designers, amongst whom is Zupank and her punk expressions. ghidini1961.com nikazupanc.com
OFFECCT Lyndon Neri & Rossana Hu HANGER, by Lyndon Neri & Rossana Hu, was one of the new projects presented by Swedish company Offecct this year. “We are always interested in seemingly mundane and anonymous everyday objects”, say the designers. “This hanger represents an object that is neglected and ignored in office environments. We wanted to respect the Offecct brand values which stand for simplicity and a strong sense of the contemporary communal meeting place, in addition to the LifeCircle philosophy, which is reflected in the furniture’s base of recycled concrete. The hanger is like an āyí, an endearing term meaning aunt; it’s what the Chinese used to call their domestic helper. She doesn’t crave attention but brings grace, beauty, and usefulness to the household.” offect.se neriandhu.com
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DAMN°59 magazine / PRODUCTIVITY: OFFICE
M E E TING Modern office environments are often in flux, with workers needing spaces in which to meet at short notice. These informal gathering places should be inspiring and comfortable: a way for mobile workers to socialise and collaborate, providing a transversal platform that most of the time defines the real core of the office.
CLAUDIO FELTRIN Chairman at Arper
Changes in top management at the company have seen Claudio Feltrin assuming the role of Chairman, a position previously held by his father, Luigi Feltrin, Honorary Chairman since 1989, Arper’s first year. “We have always considered ourselves first and foremost a family facing challenges together. My father is still a driving force, encouraging us to never stop evolving. Arper’s goals today are the result of his determination, and we will continue to work side by side leading the company into the future”, pronounces Claudio Feltrin. This year, Arper extended the functionality of its Parentesit range to include freestanding pieces that increase privacy and comfort. Architectural in scale, these modules carve out a three-dimensional space for concentration or quiet conversation in shared workspaces or collaborative environments. Parentesit was dually inspired by minimalist art and classic Japanese interiors. “For 15 years we have been working with Lievore Altherr Molina, and these 15 years have been full of satisfaction. Our relationship has evolved into a friendship. The studio’s designs have a ‘natural’ and ‘simple’ style, in the sense of immediacy and linearity, which also belongs to our products. These considerations led us to create Parentesit Freestanding dividers for shared work environments. In large, open spaces the modular pieces encourage individual concentration, teamwork, and meetings. Parentesit offers a new contemporary office experience: a space to think.” The modules are available in four varieties and in Arper’s full range of fabrics, further engaging the expression of the end user. arper.com
STRING Anna von Schewen and Björn Dahlström Launched in 2015 and already a German Design Award winner in 2016, string® works is a pioneering line of ergonomic furniture for the workplace. Swedish designers Anna von Schewen and Björn Dahlström have based the elements on Nisse Strinning’s minimalist design language. A freestanding shelf in the style of the iconic string® system and an ergonomic, height-adjustable desk form the core of the new product range. Working while standing not only provides back relief, it also increases calorie expenditure and has a positive effect on metabolism. A standing table is also ideal for short, ad-hoc meetings. The new height-adjustable desks and tables allow the user to change postures based on personal preference and the situation. With an optional PC holder, the computer can also be stored below the tabletop. A number of other items, including a filing cabinet that can be integrated into the shelving system, a mobile storage unit, and a multifunctional screen/panel, complete the scenario. string.se
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JACOPO DELLA FONTANA
Architect and Founder of D2U — Design to Users The new Publicis Group Headquarters in Milan was recently redeveloped by Italian architectural firm D2U - Design to Users. Jacopo della Fontana was in charge of the development and execution of the project, with the goal of transforming an abandoned property into a new-generation office building. “Turning a sad, empty building into an inviting, creative campus presented a huge challenge,” says della Fontana, “overcome thanks to the vision and determination of everyone involved.” This vision gave birth to a workplace able to provide a shot of energy and inspire people, making it a place that people don’t want to leave. In addition to the three main agencies in the Group (Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, and MSL), the 11,500 square-metre space also hosts other companies, totalling some 10 brands. “To keep the various brand images separate, three different entrances had to be identified, each with plenty of visibility from the outside and with its own distinctive appearance on the inside. The layouts of the workspaces on the upper floors share a common approach marked by several style variants. Overall, the spaces are organised in such a way as to facilitate socialisation and creative interaction while guaranteeing privacy and allowing each company in the Group to maintain its own distinctive image.”
BLEKINGEGATAN 16 PJADAD studio PJADAD studio in Stockholm has been working at the intersection of design, art, and technology since 2009. Its communal passion for conviviality and kitchen settings adds a nice twist, resulting in a number of creative experiments including its current studio at Blekingegatan 16 in Stockholm, a shared space for creators which it hosts. There the team has installed a food studio with a fully functioning kitchen, for seamless work and off-work situations. pjadad.com; blekingegatan16.com
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RIMADESIO Giuseppe Bavuso The Flat table, designed by Giuseppe Bavuso for Rimadesio, can be integrated into various ambient settings, from lounge areas to the workspace. This modular table system is characterised by an aluminium structure developed in a wide array of forms. It also comes in multiple dimensional solutions, including exceptional lengths. The table has an aluminium frame with a top surface in wood or glass, available in many different finishes. rimadesio.it
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DAMN°58 magazine / PRODUCTIVITY: FOOD
CINO ZUCCHI
Architect and Founder of Cino Zucchi Architetti (CZA) A new automated warehouse, Fili d’erba (blades of grass), has been designed for Pedrali to improve the Italian company’s customer service. The new storage building, completed in October, can accommodate some 17,000 pallets and has a footprint five times smaller than that of a traditional warehouse, therefore occupying less land. At 29 metres high, it has an overall floor area of 7000 square metres. Here the company stocks finished and semifinished products, vertically and horizontally. CZA worked on the skin of the container-building, transforming the mute façades into expressive surfaces that become part of the landscape, well beyond the logic of mere ‘corporate communication’, by rethinking the concept of ‘environmental insertion’ in an innovative way. “Over time, Pedrali’s awareness of sustainability in regard to the production cycle has generated a project of great environmental quality within a landscape where the agricultural matrices are still strongly present. The mass of the new warehouse, whose height and volume are totally determined by its inner technical devices, reacts to the abstract theme of wrapping the machines it contains with a specific response that is related to the context, to solar orientation, and to the industrial complex it belongs to.” All four sides of the building are covered in aluminium panels. Fixed onto these is a series of extruded aluminium profiles that generate a visual pattern formed by a combination of vertical and oblique lines, like gigantic blades of grass, giving rhythm, scale, and measure to the blind, unarticulated façades, especially the large surface on the south side. The interplay of the length, direction, and intensity of the ‘blades’ and their shadows over the course of the day, combines with the mix of colours and the diversity of viewing angles. “The dull and uniform volume of the new warehouse is thus transformed into a visual phenomenon rich in variation, a kind of natural amplifier of the time of day and the season. At certain moments the building dissolves into the misty sky, reflecting its grey-blue tones, and at other times it becomes imbued with the bright green of the agricultural fields in Spring.”
PEDRALI Patrick Jouin Social, designed by Patrick Jouin for Pedrali, was presented at Orgatec 2016. It consists of a modular system of curvy, linear corner-seats and poufs, and a replicable sofa, ready to host social aggregations. From a quiet tête-à-tête coffee-break to a co-working space, from a lonely waiting-room to a relaxing moment with friends. The seats are made of injected foam and elasticity is built into the back — the furniture can be upholstered in fabric or leather, while the steel frame and diecast aluminium legs come in a powder-coated or polished finish.
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