The only constant is change – and that’s especially true in the context of post-COVID workspace design. While talk increasingly grows of stricter return-to-office policies, flexibility must be now be embedded into places of work, no matter where it happens. Designers and brands are responding with furnishings that balance ergonomics and dynamism: we share tables and desks developed with adaptability in mind.

DECUMANO

Fantoni

Decumano is the outcome of Fantoni’s quest for a table that could both stand alone and seamlessly integrate with its other collections. Giulio Iacchetti and Matteo Ragni designed the series of executive and meeting tables – with height-adjustable, rectangular, square, circular and different-sized options – by building a base of intersecting lightweight beams. The resulting form is a nod to the layout of Roman cities, composed of the decumanus (an east-west-oriented road) and the cardo (a north-south street).

LYT

Lapalma

With a sleek and minimalist design that conceals its multifunctionality, LYT from Lapalma serves three purposes. Designed by Klaus Nolting, it features an off-centre leg, allowing it to fit snugly next to an armchair or sofa. It incorporates a USB-C port for charging devices, and its battery-powered LED, hidden beneath the tabletop, transforms it into a light source.

Photo: Jonathan Mauloubier

BOA

Hay

Inspired by traditional Japanese bamboo craftsmanship, Diez Office designed a large-format conference table for Hay. Boa is made using HYDRO Circal aluminium, made from a minimum of 75 per cent recycled, post-consumer scrap. The aluminium base is constructed locally in Denmark, helping to further minimize its environmental impact and is flat-packed so it can be easily bent and assembled on-site by the user.

TAM TAM CUR

Ibebi

A vertically folding table with round rectangular top, Arter&Citton’s Tam Tam Cur for Ibebi is a response to the growing demand for dynamic furniture in professional and educational spaces. Ideal for activities ranging from individual work to group meetings, the design has elliptical section steel tube legs, kick-pedal castors and comes in a range of minimal and vibrant colours.

 NASTRO

Alias

Setting out to put a spin on the height-adjustable table, designer Daniel Rybakken envisioned Nastro, a wood-and-aluminium design produced by Alias. Eschewing electrical-powered raising systems for a unique belt-and-pulley mechanism, Nastro is at home in work and domestic settings alike. Various colours can be selected for the metal legs. 

Q-ACTIVE

Narbutas

The Q-Active sit-stand table from Narbutas enables users to assemble an  ergonomic workspace in only nine minutes – twice as fast as other models. Height-adjustable with the click of a button, it comes in a collection of desktop sizes and is crafted with melamine-faced chipboard and metal. A anti-collision sensor also ensures seamless flexibility.