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Which Famous Faces are Roaming the Halls at Orgatec 2016?

Couldn’t make it to Cologne this year? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Check out the top seven famous faces we’ve spotted on the ground at this year’s Orgatec.

Which Famous Faces are Roaming the Halls at Orgatec 2016?


BY

October 27th, 2016


Pictured above are the Bouroullec brothers, seen at the Vitra stand at Orgatec 2016

1. Alain Gilles, BuzziSpace

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Alain Gilles

This internationally award-winning Belgian creative has been spotted meandering about this year’s #Orgatec16 halls, checking in on his latest masterpieces – the most stunning of which has to be the BuzziFloat Chair for BuzziSpace.

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The BuzziFloat chair at Orgatec

BuzziFloat is the ultimate workplace chameleon – blending naturally into its surroundings. Alain Gilles engineered this transparent to feel spacious and airy, while giving off a strong graphic personality. A stellar example of how hospitality is the new agile.

BuzziSpace is available in Hong Kong through Zenith Interiors.

2. Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, Vitra

Barber Osgerby
Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby

Quirky Englishmen Barber & Osgerby continue their collaboration with Vitra at this year’s Orgatec with the launch of their first ever task chair – Pacific.

Barber Osgerby
The Pacific chair at Orgatec

Developed in Switzerland, the Pacific Chair embodies Barber & Osgerby’s signature design precision and features bold colours with straightforward, linear shapes. “Full performance, quiet design” is the name of the Pacific game according to Barber & Osgerby, who have managed to create a confident and consistent designe language here to cleverly integrate the components of the so far down that no mechanical components are visible from behind, with the exception of the base.

Vitra is available in Hong Kong through Aluminium, Lane Crawford and Establo, among others.

3. EOOS, Walter Knoll

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The EOOS design trio

Martin Bergmann, Gernot Bohmann and Harald Gründl from the design studio EOOS have gone all out for Orgatec 16 – launching not one but two game-changing designs – Conference-X and Leadchair.

Yesterday a boardroom meeting, today a few colleagues at a brainstorming session, tomorrow a reception for international guests. Conference tables are a veritable lucky dip of functionality every hour of the day, am I right? Conference-X has the X-factor in flexible conference table systems. EOOS has designed Conference-X to meet the various requirements of modern working worlds; it is a cost-effective way to change rooms to suit particular uses – all without having to change the room.

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The new Leadchair from EOOS

The second reveal from the EOOS lads is the Leadchair Management swivel chair, designed to suits agile working and conferencing. Leadchair’s strong aesthetic character makes a statement about how EOOS sees itself, Walter Knoll and how they appreciates users over form. The chair’s cover for seat and back is applied directly to the foam-moulded upholstery. Gaps enable body heat to circulate better, your spine is given optimum support, your shoulder blades can move freely. Transparent and honest, EOOS wants you to be in total comfort heaven – even over hours in intensive business meetings. Cheers for thinking of us, lads!

Walter Knoll is available in Hong Kong through BW.

4. Oki Sato, Nendo

Nendo
Raj Nandan with Oki Sato

It’s actually impossible to find anyone who doesn’t totally fan-boy/girl out about Nendo. Here, you can even see our dear Indesign Publisher, Raj Nandan being a total Oki Sato groupie! And who could blame him?!

Oki Sato and his Nendo design minions have a remarkable track record for producing the most enviable set of designs each year – and at this year’s Orgatec, he didn’t disappoint.

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Nendo’s Rolling Workspace collection

While digital surfaces are now becoming easier to write on and technology is more integrated in workplaces, the whiteboard is still an object that drives learning and brainstorming. So it was only a matter of time until it took on a new form. Here, Nendo introduces us to the Rolling Workspace collection: Instead of hanging up on a wall, the circular form rolls around and fits into desks, benches, and counter-height tables. Each piece of furniture is built with a cut made into it to stabilize the board. The whiteboard isn’t just a surface to write on, but also acts as an acoustic room divider or shelf. The back of it is finished with sound-absorbing fabric. The furniture has a dual function as bicycle stands for commuters to easily park their bikes directly in the office. According to the man himself, “By changing one element of the office, we suggest that the workplace can be a more active and multifunctional space,” says Sato. #Drooling!

Nendo products are available through Establo, among others.

5. Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Vitra

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The Cyl table system

What famous-face list would be complete without the Bouroullec bros? Yes these French celebrity siblings have been clocked at the Vitra stand for their new office system – Cyl.

The Cyl concept disrupts the agile model we all hold so dear, instead proposing a home-like atmosphere for the workplace with an innovative table system. The Bouroullec’s have compensated for what they refer to as the: “often technical and shrill character of business environments,” to give us the antithesis to cold, mundane interiors, instead forming an adaptable and practical oasis of peace and tranquility.

“It was an important step to realise that domestic qualities are interesting in the office landscape,” explains Ronan. “I think the simplicity of Cyl – with its warming natural and hand-crafted materials – responds to a demand for clarity and fosters a welcoming atmosphere in the office world. One that has been sorely lacking.”

Vitra is available in Hong Kong through Aluminium, Lane Crawford and Establo, among others.

6. Tom Dixon, Haworth

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Tom Dixon

Is there anything the duke of design can’t get right? We saw Dixon’s staunch figure milling about his stand and having some fascinating chats with the punters about his focus at this year’s Orgatec – the paperless office V our love for the past.

“The paperless office was an interesting dream,” he notes, “as was the idea that everything would move online and life would be lived through the screen – but we know that people still cherish an analogue life – the papers, the pens, the keys and physical objects that continue to give us manual satisfaction.” Where does that leave us, Tom?

Tom Dixon
Dixon rethinks the paperless office

Dixon’s response has been a series of products that enable technology and the idea of the paperless office, with the materiality and tactility of the past that we apparently cannot do without.

Tom Dixon is available in Hong Kong from Lane Crawford.

7. Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas, Haworth

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Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas

Orgatec 2016 brings new work from Haworth by famed Italian design duo Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas. Mumbai is an executive table, with elegantly crafted soft curves. This creates a smooth, shapely desk that would be as much at home in an art collection as an executive office. The warmth of the material and bends in the form make the traditional dreary 9-5 a cosy and productive experience.

Haworth is available in Hong Kong.

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