Because of the pandemic, working conditions for most companies have changed. If before we were “forced” to have 5-day 8-hour work weeks, people and companies realized that there are some jobs that can actually be done remotely or you can have a hybrid kind of arrangement. This means also that work furniture will eventually evolve because of these options. The OE1 line which was initially launched in 2021 now has some new additions that have adapted to this new working lifestyle.
Designer: Herman Miller and Industrial Facility
One of the new pieces of furniture added to the OE1 line is a working table that you can use whether you’re sitting or standing. The height can be adjusted with a pedal so you don’t go through the hassle of manually adjusting it if you decide to switch environments while working. The sit-stand table is actually also pretty light so you can move it around your working space. This is one thing common with the new additions. They’re portable, aesthetically pleasing, but also doesn’t demand attention as it is simple and minimalist in design.
Another addition is the Powerbox which lets you charge multiple devices. Basically it’s a portable trolley that can house four batteries that can hold around 1,000 watt-hours and is made from post-consumer plastic. The collection also has a freestanding curtain which can be used as a divider in case you need a physical division between your work space and your living space. There’s a more sturdy version called the curved screen. If you need something more portable, there’s the laptop hoodie which you can bring around with you so you get privacy when working in a public area.
The OE1 line now also has a work box where you can put your office supplies like pens and even keyboards and bring them around with you to wherever you are working. There is also a bigger version of the easel which was previously released. All of these will be useful for people who are working with a hybrid lifestyle now.
There are many nature-inspired designs these days, but many of them take that inspiration too literally. Sometimes they’d literally have the shape of a rock or the moon, or they might even use actual natural objects like leaves or twigs. While there’s definitely nothing wrong with that kind of interpretation, there’s also something to be said for gentler nods toward natural things and phenomena. These can lead the mind the wonder and wander, picking up hints and sparking the imagination to make connections and draw their own conclusions. Sometimes they might make cherished memories surface; other times, they become reminders of the more important things in life. This bowl-shaped table and lamps, for example, try to nudge our minds towards calmness and peace by subtly calling to mind the otherworldly serenity of a lake reflecting the moon in the dark of night.
The side table of this Lake Collection of minimalist furniture is already quite interesting on its own. Having a bowl shape, though not unheard of, isn’t exactly common. Tables with this form often have a central cylinder for its lone support, but the Lake side table has two rectangular legs on each side holding it up.
The glossy and reflective surface of the table is meant to resemble the dark waters of a lake at night, though you probably wouldn’t be able to make that conclusion immediately unless you knew the name of the furniture collection. It’s that kind of indirect and subtle association that makes such designs open to more than just one interpretation, which makes them more effective at conveying messages. In this case, the simplicity of the table’s form becomes not only a tribute to minimalist design but also a reminder to keep our lives simple.
Once you add one of the two table lamps that are part of this collection, however, the moonlit lake inspiration becomes a bit more pronounced. The yellow circular glow of the lamps reflected on the table’s surface immediately calls to mind the unearthly light of the moon on dark waters. The reflection is clear, smooth, and undisturbed, hinting that the waters are similarly clear and calm, a metaphor for calming our minds at the end of the day.
The Lake Collection’s simple design is meant to encourage reflection, especially of the world and nature around us. But even if you miss those cues, the attractive forms and sleek materials still make the furniture a sight to behold, no matter where you place them in the room. It’s a nature-inspired design that, just like nature itself, doesn’t shout to call your attention and simply immerses you in its beauty and wonder.
Resimercial design is one of the latest design trends that is a fusion of “residential” and “commercial” elements in the contemporary workspace. The ultimate goal of this design style is to create a workspace that is not only comfortable and stylish but also maintains a professional look.
In a recent development, international brand Teknion Corporation recently unveiled its Collaboration Hub in Gurugram, India, showcasing the latest workplace concepts and products that are driving resimercial designs worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, the international brand is a global workspace solutions provider that offers a holistic range of products and services for the hybrid office. With over four decades of creativity and innovation, Teknion has cemented its reputation as an accomplished leader in the workspace services industry. Established in 1981 by visionary Saul Feldberg to address emerging patterns of living and working through cutting-edge technology, the brand remains committed to shaping the future of hybrid work with its brand triad: Teknion, Luum Textiles, and Studio TK.
According to Greg Dekker- Vice President, Global Workplace Insights, Teknion “In today’s post-COVID world, with hybrid and work-from-home options becoming more prevalent, employee satisfaction has become a top priority for companies. To entice employees to come back to the office, the modern workspace needs to offer the same level of comfort as their home while still being in a professional environment”. Hence, resimercial design is the perfect solution as it not only ensures employee satisfaction, it allows creativity to flourish and also provides an excellent customer experience. “As the line between residential design and commercial design is disappearing, resimercial design is both functional and efficient, ensuring that employees reduce stress and enhance their productivity,” adds Patrick Forget, Managing Director APAC & EMEA.
As a result, there is a rise in resimercial spaces, and this design style is often used in commercial offices, residences, and public areas to give the decor a cozier and inviting feel.
What are the key elements of Resimercial Design?
• When designing a resimercial space, the basic layout and planning must incorporate flexible spaces that can be used for a variety of activities, such as meetings, conferences, and open workstations. The circulation pattern and free spaces must allow ample movement and promote interaction between colleagues.
• The material selection forms an essential component of the design strategy. There is an emphasis on natural materials like wood and stone to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
• One must beautify the space with plush furnishings in durable materials and tactile textures. Also, accessorize the area with interesting patterned rugs, lamps, and layered lighting to add a touch of luxury.
• Resimercial furniture offers comfortable seating typically associated with the familiarity of residential design. There is an emphasis on using sustainable and recycled materials that can reduce the carbon footprint of the office.
• Make it a point to add greenery to improve indoor air quality and impart an aesthetically pleasing look to the office décor. In addition, plants are a great way to reduce stress and anxiety and create a positive work environment.
Therefore, the primary goal of resimercial design is to create a warm and welcoming workspace that promotes relaxation and enhances productivity. The unique design style creates a human-centric environment that makes the office feel like home.
What are the ways in which Teknion has proposed and implemented the resimercial design style in the future workplace?
1. Create Soundproof Zones: Teknion understands the importance of providing private areas for employees to work, hold meetings or talk on the phone without interruptions. Make a note that soundproof zones are essential in busy work environments where noise can be distracting.
2. Adjustable Tables: Teknion’s adjustable tables allow users to change the height of their work surface, promoting better posture and switching between sitting and standing while working.
3. Multifunctional Conference Tables: Teknion’s conference tables are designed to adapt to different uses, making them ideal for work and meetings.
4. Introduce Soft Fabrics: Chairs with softer fabrics reduce fatigue and discomfort and are more comfortable to sit in for long periods and can. They are highly durable and can stand the test of time.
5. Seats with Wheels: The mobile seating allows employees to interact and move around the workspace easily.
6. Lounge Furniture: Teknion’s lounge furniture provides a welcoming and comfortable space for employees and visitors to relax and socialize.
7. Minimalist Furniture: Minimalist furniture creates a clean and uncluttered workspace, reducing distractions and promoting a sense of calm.
8. Rounded Furniture: Rounded furniture is more inviting and psychologically less rigid, making it ideal for resimercial design.
9. Ergonomic Furniture: Ergonomic furniture, such as perforated screens that can hold pen holders, and comfortable seating can help reduce strain on employees’ bodies and promote good posture.
10. Privacy Screens: Privacy screens offer employees an extra layer of privacy and can help reduce distractions in open-plan offices.
11. Glass Partitions: Glass partitions enable employees to connect visually and promote collaboration.
12. Built-in Charging Points: With the increasing reliance on technology, built-in charging points are essential in modern workspaces.
What’s new?
Take a look at Teknion’s Fall 22 Collection
North 56 tables
North 56 is a range of tables and chairs made of wood designed to create a more relaxed and welcoming atmosphere in the workplace. The series showcases the craft and natural beauty of wood through the work of various designers, who incorporate clean lines and body-shaped curves into each collection. The name “North 56” is derived from the latitude that connects Canada, northern Europe, and Asia, representing a connection between different cultures and design traditions. The design ethos of Scandinavia and Japan is the inspiration behind North 56, which is reimagined in a contemporary way to suit modern workspaces.
hiSpace additions
The hiSpace height-adjustable collection includes a 120° height-adjustable bench, joining the freestanding table, a freestanding 120° table, single- and double-sided bench. This new addition offers a spacious work surface suitable for a multi-monitor setup and can connect three workstations in a single run, optimizing space efficiency. The 120° bench is also available in a fixed height option, as well as on hiSpace single- and double-sided benches and freestanding tables, providing greater flexibility. The collection also boasts a new workstation name tag and a Toggle Switch option for height-adjustable desks.
Studio TK – Pico
Taking inspiration from Portugal’s highest peak, Mt. Pico, the Pico lounge chair boasts a sculptural design that adds an artistic touch to any workspace. Its organic shape, both in the low and high-back versions, provides comfort while encouraging free movement and various seating positions. To further enhance its flowing design, the chair comes with three unique base options: a 4-star swivel base, a metal sled base, and a four-legged wood base. The inviting and warm appearance of Pico makes it an ideal choice for public spaces, offices, lounges, and collaborative areas.
Teknion’s products effectively blend residential and commercial design elements, creating a comfortable and inviting work environment that replicates the feeling of working from home. With an increasing number of companies returning to the office, it’s essential to create a 21st-century workplace that promotes wellness and feels like a home away from home, especially for the millennial workforce.
Many of us have probably become acutely aware of how little space we actually have inside our homes, at least not enough to accommodate other activities that go beyond sleeping, eating, and relaxing. Recent shifts in work arrangements have created the need for hybrid spaces, or areas that can function as a workplace as well as a living space. Aside from making room for specialized furniture, homeowners have found themselves trying to either utilize existing furniture for other functions, like a dining table that becomes your office desk outside of meal times or replace those with multifunctional designs. Multifunctional, however, doesn’t have to mean complicated, as demonstrated by this collection of simple furnishings that ingeniously hide their extra features in plain sight.
One of the most important requirements when working from home is having a separate desk just for work or school. As many found out in the past two or so years, that’s a luxury for those living in small homes with a limited number of rooms. Sure, you can use almost any table as a work desk, but that also muddles the separation of your work from other parts of your life. Wally solves this by disguising the desk as a wall shelf that folds to reveal a horizontal surface to work on. It does function as a shelf with a hidden space when the table is folded up, while the top shelf can be home to decorations or more visible objects like clocks and storage bins.
This theme of easy-to-access hidden functionality is pervasive across the collection. “Mr. Hyde,” for example, looks like an ultra-minimalist wall-mounted wooden desk, at least until you pull that wooden enclosure to reveal hidden storage inside. Its complement, the In&Out shelf, has the same trick, except it uses a more conventional sliding tray to access the compartments.
What makes this particular collection extra special is that they’re designed for simplicity and ease of integration with the rest of your living space. Their minimalist and modular designs allow the owner to decide where and how to use them. Sure, there are parts of the collection that do need to be securely mounted to walls, but some, like the modular Dese bookcase, offer a bit more flexibility.
There are even some that are so simple that you might wonder why there aren’t more of these designs around. Double, for example, is a side table that can either stand low on both legs horizontally or stand tall on one side, offering you a place to put your things on, regardless of your available floor space. Sometimes, the best solutions are the simplest ones, and this elegant minimalist collection proves how “simple” doesn’t need to be boring, either.
Two separate but complementary design movements have given rise to a new furniture market. The minimalist design trend embraced simpler shapes and structures, which made DIY or do-it-yourself furniture become more accepted than ever before. Even flat-packed furniture, however, has started to sway to the opposite side, increasing the complexity not only of the design but also the assembly of these products. While that definitely has some aesthetic appeal, it came at the price of losing what made such furniture convenient and flexible, especially when it comes to moving around from place to place. Seeing the transition from lockdown trends to the migration crisis, a group of Ukranian designers set about to create a set that goes back to the roots of flat-packed furniture, putting the focus back on simplicity, mobility, and ease of self-assembly.
“Simple” doesn’t have to mean boring. Combining simple shapes can lead to interesting forms that delight the eyes just as much as complex curves or intersecting lines. This furniture collection’s simplicity, however, isn’t just in the way it looks. The more important mark of simplicity is the patented fastening system that makes it easy to put pieces together without the use of nails or screws, unlike other DIY furniture.
“Ease” is the predominant theme of this set, as made apparent by its name. The EasyStory collection is made up of six products that can stand on their own or be used to complement each other. They’re easy to put together and easy on the eyes, but they also exhibit non-trivial shapes like arcs and curves. That said, there are no hidden tricks or compartments to each piece, with all of its features and spaces available for anyone to easily see.
EasyBed is a low bed that is a perfect match for the equally low EasyTray. Likewise, EasyDesk is a straightforward work surface that you can use together with the EasySeat stool. EasyHanger is an open-style closet with space for shoes at the bottom and other items on top, while EasyTable is a single-layer side table with horizontal beams crossing its legs to give it a more interesting silhouette. All six pieces are made from natural ash wood and coated with a matte water-based varnish.
The EasyStory furniture collection uses an intersection of horizontal and vertical pieces to create its different shapes, and it’s this simple design that helps make it more understandable and approachable. More than just its static form, however, the design puts a heavy emphasis on ease of assembly and transportation, two essential properties where people find themselves constantly on the move, such as when evacuating their homes due to calamities or wars.
The way our brain works, we become almost numb and blind to the most mundane things that we see every day. It’s a survival tactic that prevents our brains from blowing up at every external stimulus. For example, we easily take styrofoam for granted in whatever form it comes in, be it large slabs or tiny balls, because they’re easy to ignore in all the packaging, cups, and containers that we see day in and day out. These synthetic objects, however, obviously have a negative impact on the environment, and the measures taken to reduce that ironically still stress both natural and human resources. That’s why these pieces of furniture try to nip the problem in the bud by giving styrofoam a new purpose inside or outside your home without having to travel far from where they’re taken.
Styrofoam, by nature, is not only non-biodegradable but also potentially harmful to our own health, which makes its use as food and beverage containers sound almost ironic. The good news is that styrofoam can actually be transformed into materials for recycled plastic products after they have been melted and treated, presuming they’re even disposed of properly. The bad news is that these materials are often sent to other countries, which makes the entire process inefficient, wasteful, and still harmful to the environment in the long run.
Japan, for example, often exports styrofoam melted into ingots only to have those become the foundations for products bought in bargain stores. Rather than going through that roundabout and expensive process, Refoam starts and ends in Japan, right where the styrofoam is melted. This recycled goo is then immediately used to build up structures with unique textures and surfaces. Structures that can become tables, chairs, and furniture that will give any space a distinct look.
Whether from near or from a distance, it’s easy to see that any piece of Refoam furniture has a unique and almost odd aesthetic. It’s like a cross between cracked concrete and molten lava that has been cooled after it was given shape. Given the process involved in melting pieces of styrofoam and placing the resulting goo into molds to cool, that’s a rather accurate representation.
The Refoam series’ rocky appearance makes it almost perfect for outdoor use, but it can still fit in some interior motifs, particularly those aiming for cold, earthy tones. More importantly, however, it provides not only a more sustainable process for recycling styrofoam waste but also gives the material new value, even in its raw, melted form.
These are very trying times for many people across the world. From health concerns to economic woes to even dreadful wars, people are always looking for ways to relieve their stress. Some might be able to find relief in traveling or camping, though most will probably attempt to use scents and sounds to calm their nerves. The simplest solution, however, is to have comfortable furniture that evokes a sense of calm and peace, especially in its form. Flock is exactly that kind of furniture that’s designed to create a cozy and comfortable space right inside your home just by looking at it, inviting people to come together and take comfort in each other’s presence.
Chairs, by nature, are designed to be comfortable enough to sit on for hours on end, though there are definitely some designs that challenge that assumption. But just because they are suitable for sitting doesn’t mean they are immediately appealing to the eyes. In fact, some of the common chair designs look cold and clinical, prioritizing function but almost neglecting form. Conversely, there are some chairs that look extremely cozy but go the opposite extreme and provide almost no proper support for your body.
Flock is a furniture collection that blends form and function in an aesthetically pleasing way that sends a clear message across to anyone who sees it. Looking almost like balls of cotton, the chair and ottoman bear forms that can easily be described as sensual and textures that are a delight to touch. The design also conjures up images of cocoons or wrapping one’s self with a blanket, both of which evoke feelings of warmth and comfort.
The collection, however, isn’t just envisioned to bring comfort to a single person. Its very name suggests a gathering or coming together, often of like-minded or familiar people like family and friends. These seats are intended to be the centerpieces in a home, particularly in spaces where people gather, to offer a sanctuary that brings pleasure not just to your body but also to your senses.
It is both ironic and fitting that Flock was made against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, one of the biggest sources of stress and despair for many people since the COVID-19 pandemic. The collection was made from materials that had to be acquired through new sources and quickly manufactured in new locations to adjust to the effects of war in that country. The end result is a beautiful furniture collection that almost becomes a symbol of peace and calm that stands defiant in the face of war and stress, bringing people in your home together to relax, kick back, and celebrate life.
Furniture is mostly seen as functional objects rather than just for show. After all, you sit on them or place items on them, and they feel like a waste of space if they remain unused for long periods of time. At the same time, however, furniture has always served a decorative purpose, which is why many antique pieces have ornate engravings or designs. Furniture has the ability to create a specific mood or atmosphere in a room. Even an interior filled with minimalist tables and chairs exudes a sense of cleanliness and tidiness. Others, however, prefer a livelier ambiance, especially in a living room, and this furniture collection definitely brings a whimsical spirit that feels like it came straight out of a dollhouse.
The living room is one of the most important parts of the house, mostly because it’s a nexus of any and all sorts of activities. It’s often one of the first areas that guests see, and it is where they are first entertained. It’s also a place where family and friends gather for games or entertainment, and it sometimes even acts as a makeshift bedroom for someone crashing over. As such, it’s almost always where the majority of fancy decorations and furniture are located.
For those hailing from south-side Chicago, this area is also called the “Frunchroom.” It’s the front room of a house where homeowners keep their most prized possessions and where some of the best memories are made. It’s no surprise, then, that a furniture collection bearing that same name would be just as memorable and fun, calling to mind the whimsical forms of furniture meant to be used as toys, here supersized for actual human use.
The Sketti side tables, for example, have legs that look like they were cut out by children for an art project. The Reading Chair’s unusual ridged upholstery is a bit hard to wrap one’s brain around, and fortunately, it can also be removed. The Duality dining chair really does the part of evoking opposite images and feelings with its flat outer sides and scalloped underside. The combination of colors, pretty much the foundational red, green, and blue hues, strike a sharp contrast to the earthy tones of the furniture’s wooden surfaces.
Frunchroom puts a playful twist to your typical home furniture, one that is sure to enliven any living space. At the same time, the very origins of the set tell of different stories and people that the designer encountered, becoming a sort of personal diary given functional form. It makes for the perfect centerpiece of the house where memories are both remembered and made, hopefully, ones that evoke as much fun and whimsy as these furniture pieces.
The Stack Collection is something those in Nordic or Scandinavian aesthetics will truly love. Ezra Ardolino definitely knows how to utilize wood. Precisely for this project, sheets of plywood were used to create beautiful furniture pieces.
There are plenty of pieces to choose from, but the Stack Collection will be more known for the furniture items like the stool, seat, bench, and table. The process used to create the pieces is stack lamination, commonly used in furniture-making. The method is utilized to stack CNC-machined and laminated FSC certified Baltic Birch plywood sheets for this collection.
The laminated sheets are transformed into a block that is then shaped into whatever form is needed to be made by 3D-re-machining. The furniture piece or object is then assembled and then given a smoother finish. The Stack product line also now includes smaller objects that are ready for everyday use.
Timbur, the Digital fabrication studio behind this project, has introduced additional entries. There is the Stack Mirror, a tabletop, Stack Bubble cabinet, and a tray. The laminated stack products were recently showcased at the Beige room of Tuleste Factory. The STACK was one of the three major exhibitions in the gallery during the NYC x DESIGN Festival.
Designer Ezra Ardolino’s background in architecture has allowed him to explore the intersection of materiality, design, and even robotics. He tries to combine these elements as he reimagines the fabricated world. The series is a collection of wooden products that are sustainable and pleasant to look at.
With new additions to the Stack Collection, we doubt if the people behind it will ever stop creating more pieces. There are so much more designs and pieces to try, but for now, we’ll admire these stack-laminated items from Timbur. The original collection only features a stool, seat, bench, and table. Now there are smaller pieces to choose from as the possibilities are endless.
Stacking sheets of plywood seems complicated, but the result shows beautiful craftsmanship, although the process involves machines and robotics. The Stack series tells us how design and technology can go together and be used to make something beneficial, creative, and innovative. Timbur has always been dedicated to fabricating a more sustainable world. The laminated stack products have been designed to reduce material waste and use natural materials like wood. They have their original function and purpose, but they also serve as stunning sculptural pieces that can be left on their own for the world to admire.
There is something about Italian furniture that sets it apart from others. We love that furniture design can be elegant, luxurious, and modern at the same time. That is for most of the contemporary pieces we are being introduced to, like the Bogdan Collection by Studiointervallo.
The studio’s founder, Andrea Ghisoni, designed this series of furniture that includes a bench, a console table, a coffee table, and a side table. You may want the whole collection as every piece can go well with the minimalist aesthetics of your home. Every unit is made of a single carved solid linden wood and boasts a single line of color defining the shape and the perimeter.
The collection pieces come with cone-shaped legs arranged in circles to support the tabletop. Such arrangement also offers one visual element. Described as a mono-material collection, the Bogdan also features colored milled-edge ribs for a bit of style and accent.
The bench is ready in one size only, while the tables arrive in different sizes. There is also a console table that may be ideal for placing in your foyer or the living room. The tables’ legs are actually two clusters of cones for better support.
The Bogdan Collection has a total of five different pieces. It was released in 2021 and can be purchased from SORS. Every piece shows premium craftsmanship and bold shapes while still maintaining clean lines.
We like that the Bogdan furniture pieces were designed with the use of space in mind. The bench and tables’ use of space was taken into consideration. Everything appears clean and simple, which is something minimalists will love.
Designer Andrea Ghisoni is famous for his clean and essential lines combined with bold shapes. The Bogdan bench and tables boast minimalist aesthetics that are very popular these days. There may be a lot of similar furniture collections, but only a few stand out, like the Bogdan. Every piece is handmade, so you know it’s special.
The collection offers functional art that can also work as conversation starters. The pieces serve their utilitarian purposes while working as decors. They’re minimalist but can very well capture the eyes. In addition, they bring a sense of organized and calm feeling as any clutter-free room should offer.
There are several Italian furniture collections we’ve featured butt only a few have made a real impression, especially among the minimalists. We remember the Felipe Pantone x Poltrona Frau Archibald Armchair and the Foresta System. The Bogdan Collection enters the scene with pieces that we know can be timeless.
