Commercial spaces aren’t what they used to be. Thanks to the prevalence of mobile technologies in the workplace and a major paradigm shift in terms of work attitudes, we are no longer working in the same ways or, necessarily, the same places as we did before. Today’s agile workforce prioritises collaboration and the ability to work whenever and wherever they want, whether this is at a desk or in a more flexible environment. To accommodate this demand, more offices are moving toward adaptable furniture that provides flexibility and function for value-driven environments.

This shifting, dynamic workplace environment comes at a time when design for the commercial and residential sectors has begun to bleed together. The residential sector is increasingly turning to the commercial and hospitality sectors for cues on combining performance with style, while the commercial sector draws heavily on the residential design vocabulary for warmth and comfort.

Adapt, a new collection of lounges and accessories from Melbourne designer Ross Gardam and available exclusively through Stylecraft, is finely attuned to both these significant changes. The collection incorporates a common thread running through Ross’ work, which is the marriage of contemporary manufacturing technologies with traditional processes and classic forms. The resulting products are characteristically elegant and timeless, made for today and expertly navigating the tension between opposites. Crisp design lines are softened by plush upholstery and curved corners, while the modularity of contract furniture is combined with the comfort of residential seating, deftly marrying the best elements of commercial and residential design.

Designed to respond to the dynamic needs of today’s workplace, the soft and subtle lounges facilitate agile and collaborative work behaviours alike. Five core modular elements can sit alone or be combined to create larger, bespoke units in straight or curved configurations. True to its name, the collection adapts to myriad shifting needs and can be easily configured and reconfigured to provide solutions for both today and tomorrow. The components are connected using streamlined nodes, which enable a simple installation process and provide a subtle visual element that is consistent between the lounge, table, and desk legs.

A selection of three straight modules is rounded out by two curved elements in 60 and 90 degrees, and can be combined with a range of detachable components to create a fully functional space. Arms, backs, screens at mid- or full-height, and desks and tables can be mixed and matched with the lounge to create workspaces at all scales from the intimate booth to large team training areas. Thanks to the sheer versatility of the Adapt collection, the lounges and work units are equally at home in a dynamic contemporary office, productive educational space, or buzzing hospitality environment. Integrated power solutions can be installed in the underside of any of the lounge or ottoman configurations, powering the plugged-in, productive workspace.

To strike the perfect balance between style, function, and comfort, Adapt builds on a heavy-duty internal frame of kiln-dried hardwood and plywood. Plush, supportive cushions in PET incorporate metal springs for long-term comfort and endurance, and are wrapped in luxe textiles or leather in a range of textures and colours. Selected for their durability and tactility, Adapt’s upholstery fabrics are offset by legs and nodes in powder-coated black or white metal, with desks and table components available in black, white, or natural laminate.

Adapt is infused with the softness and warmth of home, adopting a 50mm radius on corners throughout to create a rounded, inviting appearance. Combined with an overstated French seam on all upholstery, the soft radius evokes the highlights of residential design language, and is a delightful contrast to the hard edges and sharp corners of conventional office spaces. Adapt brings an unbeatable triumvirate of style, service, and sustainability to the commercial spaces of tomorrow.

Photography by Haydn Cattach.