A new way of expressing furniture: BoConcept and BIG

Surrounded by water and with a distinctly energetic vibe, Danish architecture studio, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, has based its new headquarters in Copenhagen's flourishing harbour district, Nordhavn. With its newly constructed office building, the design pioneers are striving to showcase the art of blending technology, innovation and creativity while also designing a space that nurtures inventiveness and fosters a sense of community in the workplace.

The shift towards flexible office environments is a growing trend, with an increasing number of companies realising the benefits of being able to customise office spaces that cater to different ways of working. Although structure and support remain essential pillars in the professional framework, it is freedom and flexibility that drive autonomy and happiness.

Combining BoConcept’s simplicity and elegance with BIG’s future-thinking aesthetic and sense of purpose, the new Nawabari collection is designed to bring people together and transform social spaces. The components of the collection can be used individually as standout pieces or grouped together to create a standalone area. As such, different elements of it have been placed around the BIG HQ to foster both creativity and well-being.

‘When designing furniture, creating comfortable environments is one of the most important missions,’ says Jakob Lange, Partner and Head of Products at BIG. ‘At BIG, we design objects that don’t demand too much attention and that can be matched together with other objects to create calm and soothing environments.’

The Nawabari collection consists of two sofa sizes, an armchair, two coffee tables and two pouffe sizes, thoughtfully designed to be arranged in diverse constellations and for a wide range of interiors. The entire collection shares a unifying design language inspired by the simple concept of binding ropes around a sponge and discovering what sculptural expressions could be created. As a result, Nawabari presents intriguing shapes which call for social interaction and mixed types of use.

Ingels presented his concept of ‘hedonistic sustainability’, promoting the idea that environmental responsibility will not only be better for the environment, but also more beautiful and fun to work in. The Nawabari collection has evolved out of this thinking as well. The sofas, armchair and pouffes are all Greenguard certified when upholstered in the Blend fabric, produced by Danish manufacturer Gabriel, and carrying the EU Ecolabel and STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX.

As a united force, BIG and BoConcept propose a way of thinking and improving future interior environments. ‘BIG’s commitment to sustainable materials aligns perfectly with our vision for a more environmentally conscious future’, says Claus Ditlev Jensen, Collection and Visuals Director at BoConcept. By lowering the risk of harmful substances, the duo is taking an important step in a direction which many companies wish to follow, providing their employees and visitors with a healthy and sustainable indoor climate.

The Danes are renowned for their informal office culture and with Nawabari, BIG and BoConcept are further elevating this culture and tradition, emphasising the importance of adaptable and multipurpose interiors.

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