The emerging hybrid work model has elevated the need for dynamic spaces where people can perform heads-down work and also come together as a team. MIRAN’s first product, FoCol, was developed to address this need in today’s office, hospitality and educational environments. The name FoCol is a "mash-up" of Focus and Collaboration. Accordingly, the FoCol system creates work spaces for individuals, pairs, or groups; delineates and defines space; and introduces a beautiful aesthetic that uniquely complements open-plan systems and freestanding furniture. Design exploration for FoCol began with the goal of providing a respite, or haven, from the audio and visual clutter of typical open office environments. With a focus on human-centered design and environmental psychology, our multi-functional team aligned on physical and emotional well-being as our north star. This manifested into core design principles of residential comfort, authentic and sustainable materials, and flexible configurations that adapt to a variety of spaces and all the ways people work. We took design inspiration from the sculptures of artist Richard Serra. His organic and powerful forms evoke a sense of movement, create distinctive spaces and celebrate materiality. Influenced specifically by one of Serra’s nautilus-shaped sculptures, we developed a configuration we call Concentrate, that wraps around the user and creates a welcoming escape from the ongoing office din. To further enhance the occupant’s comfort level, we utilized Birch plywood for warmth and recycled PET felt for soft texture and a measure of noise reduction. We gave particular attention to the proportion and spacing of the wood and felt panels to achieve a comfortable balance between privacy and openness. A core mantra for FoCol was “keep it simple”. We began by breaking down the nautilus shape of Concentrate into arc sections with three different radii that serve as the functional building blocks for all FoCol configurations. To maintain a perfectly smooth curve from one arc section to the next with no visible connections, we created an innovative structure of vertical wood fins, interior steel brackets and felt slats that provide a continuous look regardless of the configuration. Complete arc sections are prebuilt in our factory and can be assembled on-site quickly and intuitively by two people with only a wrench. Throughout the development process, the MIRAN team embraced environmental responsibility. FoCol’s material choices reflect this commitment with components that are all recycled, renewable and reusable. FoCol is built to provide long-term value. Its modular components can be reconfigured and reused to adapt with the evolving needs of people and space; and felt slats in 35 colors can be effortlessly swapped out to completely refresh the appearance without replacing the entire system, further emphasizing our dedication to sustainability. MIRAN. We proudly help people do their best work.