Bridge For Design Spring 2014 Bridge For Design Spring 2014 Issue | Page 50

DESIGN TRENDS | view point

CORPORATE CHILL OUT
Our offices are taking on a more relaxed and flexible look says Tim Armitt

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dominant trend over recent years - and one that
looks set to continue - is the cross-over between
contract and hospitality interior designs.
No longer separate and distinct, the
boundaries of interior design that were once understood
and abided by no longer apply, particularly when choosing
furniture for these two environments.
Furniture that would look equally at home in the domestic
environment has traditionally been specified for the
hospitality sector.
Now however, with the contract sector looking to soften its
environment and create more relaxed and flexible open-plan
spaces for employees, the corporate look has started to echo
the feel of a hotel environment.
Meanwhile, as the hospitality environment has to pander
more to the needs of the corporate client, the arrival of
chill-out zones, phone booths and touchdown spaces are just
some of the trends that currently influence hospitality designs
today.
The birth of high backed meeting booths is the one of the
biggest areas of growth in the corporate arena. Great for
breaking up large, open plan office spaces, these stand-alone
pieces help create touchdown spaces and informal meeting
areas.
Many offer advanced acoustic capabilities, their contoured
high-back design helps reduce peripheral vision and external
noise, whilst enhancing privacy and retaining an open plan
feel.
Once confined to the foyer, soft seating has now become
the norm for breakout spaces and meeting areas in corporate
settings – hence the growing popularity of modular furniture
that offers unrivalled levels of flexibility and practicality.
Across both sectors, there has also been a distinct surge in
custom designs and handcrafted furniture production. The

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Bridge for Design Spring 2014

need to stand out from the crowd and to provide that luxury
wow factor was once the preserve of the hospitality sector.
With more organisations waking up to sustainability, it’s
important to consider products that are manufactured from
sustainable raw materials with low chemical omissions,
combined with a strict recycling practice.
Equally, it’s more important than ever before to consider
the robustness of materials when specifying furniture. Not
only does it need to withstand everyday use, it needs to meet
the rigours of housekeeping and offer an easy to clean and
maintain solution.
Regarding materials, there is still a strong trend towards
wood tones combined with diverse colours and fabrics. Soft
seating in bold colours can help distinguish office areas and
break up the uniformity and functionality of the workspace,
or provide a striking centrepiece.
The use of natural wood looks set to continue too. No
longer confined to the frame of the furniture, natural woods
add texture and colour to handcrafted furniture designs and
can adorn interiors with a touch of luxury and individuality
that can make all the difference.
When combined with classic and elegant furniture designs
that boast high-end quality and craftsmanship – such as
comb joints and bevelled edge detailing which give an
exquisite finish – the results can be stunning and provide
enduring appeal for years to come. B

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Tim Armitt is Managing Director of Lyndon Design
342 Swindon Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 9JZ
T: [phone] | www.lyndon.co.uk