From health and wellbeing concerns that arise from being sat at a desk all day to the ever-changing use of office space post-pandemic, physical mobility at work is important. These modular, flexibility-oriented designs – from room-in-room solutions to next-gen conference tables – empower office users to get the most out of their space.

Photo: Florian Groehn

PLEGA

Derlot 

The Plega collection of stools and benches turns acoustics into seating. The Derlot project – designed by Alexander Lotersztain and realized in collaboration with Autex Acoustics – was crafted for gathering in education and workplace settings, helping to dampen noise without compromising on aesthetics. The acoustic material includes a minimum of 60 per cent recycled content.

TIMETABLE LIFT

Wilkhahn

Wilkhahn is upgrading the functionality of its Timetable Lift – a mobile, battery-operated flip-top conference table with dual purpose as a whiteboard – with smart features targeted at hybrid collaboration. A monitor mount for video conferences, digital collab boards, integrated wireless charging, cable management concept and wireless power module are all part of the renewed offer.

Photo: Fabian Frinzel 

OE1 POWERBOX

Herman Miller

Designed by Industrial Facility for Hermann Miller, the OE1 Powerbox is an add-on to the OE1 Workspace Collection, a series of transportable furniture that responds to new ways of working. Taking agility further, the wireless ‘battery platform’ allows the system’s users to work anywhere while keeping their devices fully charged.

 Photo: Courtesy of Pearson Lloyd

COLAB

Senator

Based on research conducted by Pearson Lloyd on trends in the higher education sector, a range of furniture aimed at creating next-generation working and learning environments was designed for Senator. The research found that fluid, multi-directional and collaborative learning models and ways of working currently define the education and work sectors and will continue to do so. The resulting collection provides multi-posture furniture, allowing users to select the items that best support the task at hand. 

HUB

Fantoni

Driven by the need for customizable and personalizable workspaces that can adapt to different functions, situations or group sizes, Fantoni developed Hub with designer Matteo Ragni. The modular ‘landscape’ of furniture relies on a frame that can support independent workstations or multi-person arrangements. When privacy is required, the system can separate into islands.

COMMA

Vitra

In response to the growing demand for more agile work environments, Vitra created Comma, a six-piece modular furniture collection with a built-in joinery system. Elements from the kit of parts can be freely combined, giving users full creative license to build a variety of workspaces, and the pieces can be reconfigured infinitely to adapt to new needs.

ALLORA POUF

Dauphin

Rüdiger Schaack’s Allora Pouf for Dauphin is a stackable upholstered stool that comes in an array of materials, sizes and colours. Compact and lightweight, the design is conceived to encourage flexible work wherever a user wants. Sustainability was also a focus: the upholstery comprises 99 per cent recycled PET bottles.

LIVES POST + BEAM

Okamura 

Lives Post + Beam is a modular system for crafting new borderless spaces in open-plan workplaces. The Okamura structure provides ease of set-up – no major construction is required. Add-ons can make the system especially suited to specific zone needs: movable whiteboards can forge an open meeting area, for instance, or counter benches and chairs a café setting.