Like being at home in front of the fireplace: Brunner's oval lounge system

When Markus Jehs is asked about the topic of New Work, he laughs but also wonders a little about the term: ‘New Work? What does that actually mean? We've always worked new here.’ As far back as 2007, he, together with Jürgen Laub, had already decided 'to leave older ways of conferencing behind. We're working differently now.’ So when it comes to questioning the status quo in the office, the design studio of jehs+laub is an ideal partner – and particularly true in the case of renowned design contract furniture manufacturer Brunner, which has been providing creative solutions for the ever-evolving world of work for some time now, while also in the meantime becoming an expert when it comes to New Work.

So it's no wonder then, that Brunner's oval lounge system, developed in cooperation with the Stuttgart-based creative duo, meets all the modern requirements. The modular upholstered furniture system creates customised seating landscapes and retreat zones in open-plan spaces, which can be designed according to user-orientated needs thanks to its countless possible combinations. In this way, people are brought together and the collaborative interaction that is so important for creative output is promoted. At the same time, the softly upholstered lounge system exudes cosiness and so also contributes to an attractive working environment.

Oval also helps to provide an answer to the question of whether employees will still go to the office at all in future. For Jehs, at any rate, New Work does not take place at home, but in new working environments: ‘People are social beings – they need exchange. And if people don't go to the company, the company culture will eventually disappear. It is important that people come together: big decisions and major innovations don't happen in Zoom conferences. They happen in the corridors, on the balcony, sometimes in the smoking area.’ This is also the opinion of Philip Brunner, one of Brunner's managing directors: ‘We see a lot of potential in these interfaces and transitions. That's why we wanted to bring a series to the market with which these zones can be furnished attractively, comfortably, functionally and flexibly.’

So the lounge system is aimed precisely at those spaces in the office where crucial ideas and contacts are generated, but also where the community is consolidated and batteries recharged. ‘With oval, we promote this because we see it as an advantage of being in the office compared to working from home. Because here, and above all in the oval-use areas mentioned, information flows directly and unhindered, feelings of belonging take root – and that is not to be underestimated,’ explains Dr. Marc Brunner, also managing director of the family-owned company.

Nor is the design factor to be underestimated – in particular the creative device of the lounge system's ‘non-rectangular’ corners. In addition, the eponymous oval rounding of the seating surfaces and the friendly openness of the straight benches, generous seating islands, curved arrangements and agile single-seaters all contribute to creating a pleasant contrast to often right-angled office architecture. ‘The first spark was the desire for a light piece of furniture – something friendly and inviting,’ Laub recalls. The design also offers two more advantages: ‘Firstly, you perceive the room quite differently when you are sitting in it. Because a person approaching a sofa tends to sit on the corners, never in the middle. But you can't sit so well on the corners, you always need a base, a cushion. So we came up with the idea of non-corner seating. The second advantage is that if you set up several islands, the layout is much more pleasant – like the streets of a city.’

The reason for this is that ovals create radii that structure the space, making it easier to walk around. In this way, the modular furniture system not only creates comfortable working and seating landscapes, but also takes on important space-structuring functions. It is therefore also an optimal solution for central zones and waiting areas in public places such as educational institutions, co-working spaces, libraries or hotels.

In addition, oval ensures a high degree of flexibility in the respective areas thanks to its diversity of design options. The colour scheme of the various lounge elements can be chosen according to personal taste, while the same applies to the covers of the cosy cushions as well as the high or low panels used as partitions or backrests. Each oval element can thus be designed in one, two or three colours. For an even more refined visual accent, the seat elements, which are equipped with a circumferential double seam, can also be provided with an elegant leather joint seam on request.

While extras such as storage, tray tables and electrification options complete oval, optional castors also provide mobility on some product variants. The graceful frame made of light or dark powder-coated round steel tubing is available in relaxed lounge or regular seat-height and can be equipped with attachable oak roundwood for added cosiness. And speaking of cosiness, the high-quality soft upholstery made of moulded foam with pocket spring core insert offers an outstandingly comfortable sitting experience.

Whatever the format chosen, oval creates a homely and feel-good atmosphere for encounters which, as Jehs emphasises, are the opposite of meetings around the conference table,‘where everyone is glad when it's over. That is certainly not the case with oval. It's more like being at home in front of the fireplace.’

© Architonic

Head to the Architonic Magazine for more insights on the latest products, trends and practices in architecture and design.