{"id":101272,"date":"2024-06-27T17:36:11","date_gmt":"2024-06-27T07:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/asia-en\/?p=101272"},"modified":"2024-06-27T17:36:54","modified_gmt":"2024-06-27T07:36:54","slug":"creating-the-new-gathering-place","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/asia-en\/research\/articles\/topics\/design\/creating-the-new-gathering-place\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating the New Gathering Place"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gathering is one of the great reasons to be at work \u2014 but how well do gathering places actually work for the people who use them? And what kind of design innovations would help make the experience of working together feel better \u2014 more natural, more delightful?<\/p>\n

As one of the industry\u2019s original ancillary design brands, Coalesse has always studied these questions in order to create enduring modern furnishings for all the places where people connect and work. Building on years of research and studio experimentation, the Coalesse Design Group set out to examine where people want to be when doing social, informal work. Beyond another lounge system, and unique from other types of meeting spaces, designers Markus Marschall and Florian Schulz created a novel seating landscape that brings serious performance together with the emotive draw of beautiful, well-crafted furniture.<\/p>\n

Markus and Florian joined us from the Coalesse Studio in Munich to discuss the process of creating Coalesse Ensemble \u2014 the new gathering place.<\/p>\n

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Markus Marschall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Florian Schulz<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Work Better:<\/strong> How did the design process for Coalesse Ensemble begin? Was there a key insight that set you on a path?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Markus Marschall<\/strong>: We received Steelcase research that told us what people wanted of their time in the office, which included to meet friends, socialize, do some creative work…to gather. That got us thinking about this particular behavior and how spaces for meetings had changed. What would make it easier to enjoy that experience with comfort and high performance at the same time.<\/p>\n

Florian Schulz<\/strong>: At Coalesse we start with the research. But then we bring people in. And that’s what I like about the company. We always put the needs of people at the center of everything. Design decisions are often emotional \u2013 what will make you love a piece \u2013 but at the same time we ground our work in data, in research. And we put that all together into a physical design language.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

MM<\/strong>: So we asked, what new behaviors happen when you take a meeting room or a standing-height caf\u00e9 setting down to a lounge level? You\u2019d get the feeling of conversations happening in your own home. But this seat has to be a bit more supportive, a bit higher than a casual sofa. And also, a bit firmer. That allows you to be in a lounge position for several hours of working, without slouching or sinking.<\/p>\n

FS<\/strong>: Posture has such a big impact on conversation and the meeting itself. Lounges let you have a human conversation, not a stiff conversation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

WB: How did landscape and nature become part of the design concept in such a specific way?<\/strong><\/p>\n

FS<\/strong>: At Coalesse, we always consider biophilia and wondered if a lounge setting could be like a river winding through a space or rolling hills. That led to rounded shapes that can meander, both in length and height. From the beginning this was about removing sharp edges and angles and creating a natural escape or oasis with the furniture.<\/p>\n

\"Lounge<\/p>\n

MM<\/strong>: Do we need to work in a grid? Can we loosen the grid? We wanted to break up all the strict lines, grids and straight surfaces in workspaces in a more organic or irregular way. And just like nature that\u2019s never the same, you can use these pieces in endless, unique ways.<\/p>\n

FS<\/strong>: So, this is the logic behind the whole system. This notion of landscape gave us the scenery of a 360-degree view front and back, high and low, which helps create the rhythms of a more informal space. Softer geography replaces stiff geometry. And then we applied that as well to every detail and proportion of how the furniture fits bodies.<\/p>\n

MM<\/strong>: We just kept making everything rounder and rounder\u2026we wanted the furniture to feel unrestrained and happy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

WB: How do the design details deliver on this idea of gathering that works?<\/strong><\/p>\n

MM<\/strong>: It all starts with posture. We wanted to perfect a performance back that isn\u2019t limited to one or two positions. It\u2019s a continuous and seamless movement, like in a car. And we made the pull super intuitive to locate and use, with a very simple strap, nothing hard or mechanical.<\/p>\n\"\"

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Rigorous iteration and user-testing helped perfect a performance back with a fluid 12-degree range of movement. The hidden mechanism is designed so you can pull the strap with a single finger, a non-dominant hand, or even while holding a coffee.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t

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Rigorous iteration and user-testing helped perfect a performance back with a fluid 12-degree range of movement. The hidden mechanism is designed so you can pull the strap with a single finger, a non-dominant hand, or even while holding a coffee.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t

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Rigorous iteration and user-testing helped perfect a performance back with a fluid 12-degree range of movement. The hidden mechanism is designed so you can pull the strap with a single finger, a non-dominant hand, or even while holding a coffee.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n

FS<\/strong>: Same with the upholstery. It\u2019s very comfortable, but not as soft or deep as a residential lounge, so that you don\u2019t fall into it. And then the screens can be added anywhere, in any combination, to add privacy.<\/p>\n

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MM<\/strong>: First step is to look at a form and decide, “I like that.” Then the second step is to ask, “Does it do this or that, does it have power, does it support good posture, does it fit into a lot of spaces?\u201d<\/p>\n

FS<\/strong>: It’s not only looking nice, it’s also working great.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

WB: How does Coalesse Ensemble come together in different kinds of spaces?<\/strong><\/p>\n

FS<\/strong>: First, it\u2019s so incredibly modular. There\u2019s no standard configuration. It works in small spaces, and it scales to large spaces. Designers and companies can add components over time because everything fits universally. You can build a winding lounge but just as easily a booth or a nest and rebuild with any of the elements, as needs change.<\/p>\n

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Universal connectors allow you to gang lounge feet, tables or planter units together on an easy-to-scale rail system.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A simple piece fits seamlessly into any component, letting you grow and change your space over time.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

MM<\/strong>: And then there\u2019s infinite expression, based on how many and which pieces you combine. There are nearly unlimited ways to apply color and highlight material. That\u2019s also part of the intention in the round forms, which are more compatible and easier to pair with other products and collections.<\/p>\n\"\"

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Coalesse Ensemble Lounge System<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t
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Coalesse Ensemble Lounge System<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t
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Coalesse Ensemble Lounge System<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n

FS<\/strong>: We wanted to give designers an inspiring kit of parts that would allow them to create endless configurations. You can swap out the fabric panels of the screens to refresh a space. You can reorganize the modules.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

WB: Ensemble means together. What does that imply for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

MM<\/strong>: It isn\u2019t just the way the pieces work together. It\u2019s about how these pieces naturally create places where we love to drop in and be together, that also really work for us. It\u2019s how we think about giving designers a system that works \u2013 and allows them to have fun and create something original.<\/p>\n

FS<\/strong>: Coalesse Ensemble is about building relationships, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re here to do.<\/p>\n

\n

MEET THE INGREDIENTS<\/h3>\n

Learn how, all from one system, you can choose any imaginable set of components, combinations and configurations to bring together gathering places that work, beautifully.<\/p>\n

Explore Coalesse Ensemble<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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