Frame 01-02

For HEALTHIER WORKPLACES,

rethinking traditional desk-and-

chair setups is a crucial first step.

Wellbeing has permeated every facet of daily life. Eliminate

all the emphasis on the subject, and it’s very possible we’d

be living in a world without SoulCycle, green juices and

meditation apps. Stress is a major deterrent to the wellbeing

we so crave and need. According to Britain’s National

Institute for Health and Care Excellence, approximately

13.7 million working days are lost each year in the UK owing

to work-related illness. In acknowledging this statistic,

designers should consider where office work takes place and,

consequently, the essence of the problem – the desk.

In a 2015 report published by the American College of

Physicians in Annals of Internal Medicine, doctors concluded

that ‘prolonged sedentary time was independently associated

with deleterious health outcomes, regardless of physical

activity’. When chairs become uncomfortable and desks

constricting, it is our bodies communicating with us that

there is a problem. Luckily, designers are going straight to

the source to promote new types of kinetic behaviour. From

intuitive seating solutions to ergonomic wall reliefs, these

products promote active movement and a more dynamic

working style, without debilitating our productivity. – LGM

Aiming for the ultimate in ergonomics, Lievore Altherr

Valdés teamed up with Arper to design Planesit. The

office chair’s wide armrests function as small desks and

its supportive cushioning offers a high level of comfort.

arper.com

Jaime Hayon’s high-back Plenum for Fritz Hansen is a sofa system designed

for both workspace activity and relaxation. The user’s aesthetic and

functional experience is enhanced by Plenum’s integrated power unit. The

resulting work environment fosters both collaboration and concentration.

fritzhansen.com

Sections of a permanent art installation at Centre Pompidou

in Paris – a piece by Swiss architect Leopold Banchini and

French art director Laure Jaffuel – can be raised to reveal an

entire office beneath. The project, 3-8, takes an imaginative

approach to flooring. Lifting a tile can mean discovering

desks, gardens, benches – or whatever you may need.

leopoldbanchini.com

DITCH

THE DESK

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