The rise of ‘softer’ workplace designs and blurred typologies leaves an opening for a new kind of materiality. We take a look at how this area is being explored at Orgatec 2018. Hint: it’s about the convergence of technology and materials.
October 30th, 2018
Digital interfaces dominate our work and personal lives. This proliferation of digital technology has of course made its way into numerous facets, in particular in our offices. Realising the changing way humans are interacting with materials, an entire special exhibition was curated as part of Orgatec 2018.
The #materialsculture exhibition area at the latest commercial tradeshow event explores not just the changing types of materials but its intersection with digital technology.
Curated by Dr Sascha Peters, a German trend forecaster, the space brought together an impressive array of smart, experimental materials that will no doubt be finding their way into our workplaces sometime soon.
A great example on display was a unique product and approach to material innovation developed in Sweden. The KTH Royal Institute of Technology from Stockholm has been developing a sustainable cellulose fibre – think transparent wood, hollow cellulose balls and magnetic wood composites. Through explorations in technology and design, this cutting-edge product has endless applications and makes up for Sweden’s drastic decline in paper production.
Where does Dr Sascha Peters see materials evolving in the not-too-distant-future? He believes that there will be a continuing increase in the demand for material traceability and sustainability. Having the ability to review and trace materials through a digital interface will become the norm – particularly as sustainability and accreditation targets become more stringent.
It’s this juncture of natural and digital that will allow for materials, furniture and thus workplaces to be monitored throughout a continual loop. This is the future of materiality in the workplace. One that blends digital experience with sustainable traceability and a science-like experimentation.
Already bringing this thinking to market are brands like DeVorm and emeco, both of which use recycled plastics and materials in the production of its products. These are companies driving real-life examples, which are feeding the material loop for the better.
Where do these new material experiments fall in terms of our current workplace design aesthetics and materiality?
There’s no denying that our workplaces are getting softer and more comfortable. And Orgatec 2018 presented plenty of brands that are using materiality to push for a generally softer workplace aesthetic.
One way this can be calculated is in the inclusion of fabric houses such as Kvadrat and Instyle, but also in the increase of more traditionally residential brands like Normann Copenhagen and Muuto.
Having a more cosy and welcoming workplace, and one that is accountable for its impact on the world can only be a good thing. Lets see what happens when the digital and the soft collide…
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
By adding Muuto to its roster as Singapore’s only retailer, XTRA not only celebrates the enduring appeal of Scandinavian design – it heralds a whole new perspective on its universally appealing legacy.
Some of your favourite names in design specification are leading the way in circularity and sustainable business practices.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Extrapolating the typology of farmhouse architecture, Cameron Anderson Architects (CAARCH) has drawn on the local architecture of Mudgee in both form and materiality to deliver a surprising suite of buildings.
Adaptive reuse is all the rage across the design industry, and rightly so. Here, we present a selection of articles on this most effective approach to sustainability.