Perfectly timed to current work place trends where the home-ification of work sees a sudden gap in suitable lounges, Pipeline by Derlot steps up with a remarkably beautiful modular system. “It really addresses some of the practicalities of a workspace or commercial setting, without making it obvious,” says Alexander Lotersztain, Derlot principal, who also points out that most lounges in corporate spaces are for waiting rather than lounging. Pipeline, however, can do both — and all while providing an alternate working space.

Designed as five separate pieces, the lounge’s fifth element (speaking to the lounge’s space-age aesthetics…) comprises a cylindrical bolster that wiggles across the middle of the seat, giving unique opportunity for switching direction. As such, the elements can be arranged in any configuration from straight or circular to zig zag.

“You can go very pared back and minimalist, or you can have a lot of fun with it. And, when you then add a layer of colour or a different type of fabric, you can be as loud or as corporate or elegant as you want,” says Lotersztain.

Within each element, the bolster, while attached and ergonomically optimised with angle and rigidity, seemingly rests within the base. “It’s such a simple shape, but we really wanted to accentuate the idea of the bolster resting on the seat, as though it is almost sinking in,” says Lotersztain. “The idea was to create this visual tension between the backrest and the base, making it feel casual in the way the bolster is just kind of resting there.”

The other advantage to the clearly articulated separation lies in the fun that contrasting or playful colour combinations can produce: “If you really want to accentuate the cylindrical shape of the pipeline, you could really have fun with that,” adds Lotersztain.

Related: Ross Dider’s Puffalo campaign

At a generous 1x1meter the base proportions are large enough for the lounge to hold its own in any commercial space. Moreover, the large format means the small corner separated out of the lounge when a curved element is chosen remains large enough to be used as a seat and has an expressed geometric presence. That said, reduce the number of elements and the lounge can just as easily suit a domestic space. This is something Lotersztain and his team have considered with various options available to tailor the lounge to specific needs. The simple forms allow the whole to be reconfigured as needs change.

Customable in soft leather and a range of fabrics with the curled boucle Elle from Kvadrat seen in the images, Lotersztain’s only hesitation is the stiffer fabrics required for healthcare as being unsuited to the curves. USB ports, powder coated steel tables in a spectrum of colour choices, charging stations and such are also customable options. GECA Certified, the modules are linked by connectors that are supplied at purchase.

There is always something remarkable to a Derlot design, from high comfort levels to visual delight and Pipeline sits squarely within this remit. With forms borrowed from space-age literature, the feel and scale is entirely contemporary, bold and a whole lot nicer to lounge in than the typical office sofa!

Derlot
derlot.com

Photography
Florian Groehn

We think you might also like this story on Fearon’s playful furniture.