Welcome to our World!

November 2016 marks our 15th year in business.

Following 10 years at Riverside Studios, Leeds, we’ve undertaken a reboot of our working showroom to highlight current and emerging trends in workplace design as well as showcasing some products that, quite simply, we like too much not to show! Launched at our CoWo15 Reboot event last Thursday, the new showroom can now be officially revealed. So, if you were unable to attend the event last week; this is us. Welcome to our World!

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Our reception area now features a selection of leather classics from Vitra, Knoll Studio and Walter Knoll, showcasing designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Eero Saarinen and Preben Fabricius and Jørgen Kastholm. Piero Lissoni’s luxurious Avio sofa system by Knoll Studio provides the central statement piece.

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From KI, the EC4 bench system keys into the current biophilic design trend and features solid oak splayed legs and a matching laminate edge detail to give a softer and more naturalistic look. In common with other KI systems it incorporates a sturdy metal understructure with a comprehensive cable management trough. Intended as an agile work/meeting base we’ve completed the bench with CMD’s Inca power/charger unit. Inca has been designed with communal working areas and meeting rooms in mind. Four usable faces allow users easy access to power and USB charging regardless of where they are positioned around the table.

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Sit-stand workstations are increasingly a requirement rather than a luxury and more systems are entering the market to suit a variety of budgets. We’re showcasing Vitra’s Tyde system by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, in our opinion one of the better back-to-back systems with its clever cable management solution and accessories.

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Also from Vitra and again by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec is the Alcove Cabin. The Alcove Cabin provides a secluded space, enclosed on all sides and accessible through a single opening. It provides visual and acoustic privacy for small meetings at the table and power connections and lighting allow it to serve as a fully-fledged workspace. Alcove was the original high back sofa concept; copied many times it has sparked a small revolution in workplace meeting areas developing into the agile working ethos.

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The agile working theme continues into our new breakout space with the ADD modular sofa and table and Kipu stools from lapalma. ADD’s slimline aesthetic belies its strong structure. The area is nicely screened by the Howe Spaghetti wall providing a psychological barrier that is open enough to invite you into the space and yet also provides a modicum of privacy.

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Our task chair selection includes the latest ‘sitting machines’ from Herman Miller, including Mirra 2, Sayl and Embody along with the fantastic new Keyn side chair. Intelligent seating offers include Wilkhahn IN, Boss Trinetic and Nomique Axia.

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Finally our Knoll Studio collection showcases designs from Eero Saarinen, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Harry Bertoia, including the rebooted and inexpensive Bertoia side chair with plastic shell for indoor or outdoor use.

If there’s anything you’d like to see just drop us a line to arrange a visit or for more details or have a look at our video on our YouTube channel.

Here’s to another 15 years!

KI EC4

Biophilic Benches

Whilst biophilic design is encroaching rapidly into many aspects of office interiors, desking and benching has hitherto remained pretty much untouched. Sure, we’ve had wooden desks for as long as civilization but for most of that time wood was the easiest or most cost effective way of doing it. Most modern desking uses metal understructures with an MFC top; an evolution of the traditional. Truly biophilic design is of course really about using natural products and materials for no other reason than to make us feel better in the environment in which we work.

KI EC4

Following this philosophy is KI with their new EC4 bench and table range. Combining the elegance and robustness of solid oak and steel, KI’s EC4 collection adds a touch of nature to the modern office landscape. EC4 provides all the capabilities of a workstation system but introduces solid oak into the understructure and a matching laminate edge detail. The splayed, angular legs are somewhat reminiscent of Jean Prouvé designs and directly connect to the main metal understructure that features an integral cable trough. Optional cable riser angled infills sit between the intermediate legs.

KI EC4

As well as benching, the range extends to touchdown spaces, meeting tables and an executive desk. Oversailing end options create space for informal meetings. The refreshing mixed material aesthetic can also be extended to EC4’s complementary storage collection through the use of accents, colours and solid oak feet.

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KI EC4Functionality & Aesthetics

  • Matching solid oak inset intermediate legs with optional shroud maintain a consistent look without creating obstructions
  • Integrated horizontal and vertical cable management
  • Sliding tops available at no extra cost
  • UK design and manufacture
  • Cantilevered, uncluttered understructure
  • Worksurfaces available in multiple shapes, edge details and finishes
  • Soft sewn C-Series screens can be added in a range of colours
  • Oversailing ends can be added to create meeting & collaboration space

 

I like to move it!

Following hot on the heels from the Wilkhahn’s IN task chair comes another 3D kinematics seating innovation. This time it’s Sway2 from KI, a lounge chair and the first of its kind.

Winner of the Best of NeoCon 2015 Award for Innovation, Sway2 offers a new definition in comfort with a unique gyroscopic motion. It allows the user to gently move front-to-back like a rocker, swing side-to-side like a cradle, and swivels 360 degrees like a task chair. Available in 4 base colours and with optional matching ottoman and side table the Sway2 is versatile and durable, ideal for both collaborative environments and private retreat areas alike, adjusting to every individual’s versatile seating styles.

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SwaySway2 will be launched at the London Design Festival in September.

Ki Europe – Sway2