{"id":156870,"date":"2025-07-04T11:27:48","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T10:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/eu-en\/?p=156870"},"modified":"2025-07-28T12:36:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T11:36:49","slug":"soft-forms-strong-connections-evolution-steelcase-flex-active-frames","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/eu-en\/research\/articles\/topics\/design\/soft-forms-strong-connections-evolution-steelcase-flex-active-frames\/","title":{"rendered":"Soft Forms, Strong Connections: The Evolution of Steelcase Flex Active Frames"},"content":{"rendered":"

In today\u2019s ever-shifting world of work, spaces need to do more than just function\u2014they need to inspire, support the people who use them and adapt to changing needs.\u00a0 This need sparked the development and evolution of Flex Active Frames. Originally introduced as a modular system to define open-plan offices, Flex Active Frames quickly gained popularity for its ability to bring structure and flexibility to open spaces. The latest enhancements have taken this concept even further, offering a softer, more organic approach to space division that blends functionality with aesthetics and supports a wide range of work styles.<\/p>\n

The Design Process: Adding a Human Touch to Office Space Planning<\/h2>\n

From the very early design phases of Flex Active Frames, the design team imagined a system that could evolve over time and respond to people\u2019s changing needs. Designer Penghao Shan shed light on the design process. \u201cWe had mapped out this evolution from the start. But how do you go about bringing it to life? It\u2019s a process that can take a decade. But you begin with the foundation, and you build from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

This intentional approach led to the latest chapter in the Flex Active Frames journey: the introduction of curved shelves and benches, planters, and curtains. These new elements soften the system\u2019s original industrial lines, bringing a more organic, emotionally resonant quality to the spaces they shape. This human-centered concept is aligned with what people need in the workplace: community and the feeling that they belong.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe previous version was sharp and linear,\u201d “Penghao explains. \u201cWith these new softer elements, it\u2019s rounded out, balanced, emotionally driven.\u201d He emphasizes that curves aren\u2019t just aesthetic\u2014they influence how people feel.<\/p>\n

\u201cSoft corners impact how the human brain perceives a setting. They make a space feel more residential and welcoming.\u201d<\/p>Penghao ShanDesign Manager, Steelcase<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n

Curtains play a subtle but powerful role. \u201cThey\u2019re a great way to add an extra layer,\u201d Penghao says. \u201cThey signal that you\u2019re in a different zone. It\u2019s less industrial, less office-y. It makes a big difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"
Original Solution<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Evolved Solution<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Making sure the curved elements could be seamlessly integrated with the original linear elements required mathematical precision and lots of testing. \u201cWe had to get the geometry just right,\u201d Penghao explains. \u201cThe curve has to be big enough to shape a space, but not so big it takes over.\u201d This level of refinement ensures that the new elements harmonize with the original system, creating continuity.<\/p>\n

Designed to Support Community at Work<\/h2>\n

A thriving workplace is more than just a collection of desks\u2014it\u2019s a dynamic ecosystem where people connect, focus, learn, and recharge. At the heart of this is community-based design<\/a>, an approach that prioritizes human connection, flexibility, and well-being. Flex Active Frames brings this concept to life with a modular system that adapts to diverse work styles and evolving team needs throughout the day.<\/p>\n

But building community doesn\u2019t mean constant togetherness\u2014privacy<\/a> is a critical part of the equation. Research<\/a> reveals that people need a range of privacy solutions, allowing them to focus, reflect, or recharge. Flex Active Frames supports this balance by offering partial acoustic privacy and visual shielding through elements like curtains, planters, and shelving. These features help define zones without fully enclosing them, allowing people to feel connected yet comfortably separated when needed.<\/p>\n

This thoughtful balance of openness and privacy enables organizations to create a wide range of purposeful spaces, each designed to support different modes of work and interaction:<\/p>\n

\"Steelcase
Creative Studios:<\/strong> Curved benches and shelves define semi-enclosed zones for brainstorming, stand-ups, and workshops.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Steelcase
Hybrid Collaboration Hubs:<\/strong> Soft boundary elements paired with the Media Tower turn transitional areas into hybrid hubs equipped for both virtual and in-person teamwork<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Steelcase
Spaces for relaxation:<\/strong> In large settings like caf\u00e9s or reception areas, planters and curtains create calming environments that help people recharge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Steelcase
Learning Zones:<\/strong> Flex Active Frames shape semi-open classrooms or project spaces that support both structured and informal learning<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Adaptability Without the Overhaul<\/h2>\n

Flex Active Frames can perfectly support a vast range of uses for working, learning, or connecting. And because the system is easy to reconfigure, spaces can evolve as teams and tasks change.<\/p>\n

\u201cOrganizations can replace single elements in the system and have a completely new space. It\u2019s all upgradable and built to evolve.\u201d<\/p>Penghao ShanDesign Manager, Steelcase<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n

One of the most thoughtful aspects of Flex Active Frames is its ability to support change without a complete office makeover. In a world where needs shift quickly, being able to adapt a space without tearing it apart is invaluable. \u201cYou don\u2019t need a construction site,\u201d Penghao points out. \u201cIt eliminates a lot of complications for people trying to structure and re-structure their spaces.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Future-Proof Space Planning Solution<\/h2>\n

Flex Active Frames provides a framework for shaping space that\u2019s flexible, human-centered, and built to evolve. Whether you\u2019re shaping a collaborative hub, a quiet retreat, or a multifunctional learning zone, the system offers a foundation that can grow with you. At its core, the design of Flex Active Frames is all about creating spaces that don\u2019t just accommodate people\u2014but support them, inspire them, and help them feel at home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Designing Dynamic Spaces for Community and Creativity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68027,"featured_media":156817,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"topic":[15590],"class_list":["post-156870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","topic-design"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSoft Forms, Strong Connections: The Evolution of Steelcase Flex Active Frames - Steelcase<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/eu-en\/research\/articles\/topics\/design\/soft-forms-strong-connections-evolution-steelcase-flex-active-frames\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Soft Forms, Strong Connections: The Evolution of Steelcase Flex Active Frames - 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