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Many innovations, few answers: This year’s Orgatec office furniture fair in Cologne, Germany, featured many innovative concepts, but left key questions about the future of office work unanswered.

by Jasmin Jouhar

ZETR’s integrated sockets have minimal impact on surfaces. E15 is the European distributor for ZETR’s System 25, providing elegant cable management solutions for the workplace | Photo: © e15, www.e15.com

People have always gathered around campfires, drawn by the warmth and light. An open fire creates a sense of community, a tradition that can still be seen every year at Easter, Midsummer or St Martin’s Day bonfires. Luminaire manufacturer Grau has now adapted this primordial source of energy for the office: at the Orgatec trade fair in Cologne, the Hamburg-based company unveiled its ‘Campfire’ model. The 1.6 metre high luminaire consists of six square aluminium tubes that lean against each other like tree trunks. Each light source is encased in a rounded glass body at the top, making Campfire look like an oversized bundle of matchsticks. An electric campfire for the office – as well as for home – is a contemporary twist at a time when people tend to isolate themselves in front of computer screens. Gathering around the ‘flames’ could foster a sense of community. And perhaps people would be more inclined to return to the office if they could gather around a ‘campfire’.

When Offices Remain Empty

The question that hung over this year’s Orgatec in Cologne was: why fill the halls with new office furniture when so many desks are empty? Part-time home-office is now a reality in knowledge-based industries, and even the most aggressive back-to-office initiatives have had limited success. The commercial property market in Germany is shrinking as companies downsize. In addition, the crisis in the construction sector, high interest rates and sluggish economic growth are dampening sentiment. Only high-quality buildings in central locations remain in demand, as employers need to offer attractive benefits to attract their teams to the office, such as good public transport links and an attractive environment. After a period of stagnation, the crisis has now reached German office furniture manufacturers, who recently reported a drop in sales of around 3% for the first half of this year. However, this is still less than the domestic furniture industry, where sales fell by an average of 10% over the same period.

Campfire for the office: Lighting manufacturer Grau presents its ‘Campfire’ at Orgatec 2024 | Photo: © Grau

The Future of Trade Fair Formats

Soon after the shock cancellation of the Imm Cologne furniture fair, scheduled for next January, casual conversations began to focus on whether Cologne had a future as a trade fair location and what event formats could replace the traditional, resource-intensive trade fair model. Unsurprisingly, there were no definitive answers; there was a lot of speculation, with rumours of a fusion or new trade fairs in other cities. In Cologne-Deutz, however, business continued relatively undisturbed. In the halls where major manufacturers such as Haworth, Interstuhl, König + Neurath, Sedus and Wilkhahn were represented, the spacious stands were, as usual, packed with visitors examining office chairs, conference tables and shelving systems. It seemed to be business as usual.

Other halls, which showcased home furnishings, outdoor lighting and furniture, were less busy. The lines between these sectors have been blurring for some time. Manufacturers traditionally focused on home or outdoor furniture are now trying their luck in the corporate and commercial sector, which includes offices, government buildings, hotels, cruise ships, restaurants and other public spaces. Workplaces at home need to be comfortable too. The fair responded to this trend with a mix of brands and manufacturers such as COR, E15, de Sede, Walter Knoll, Muuto, Freifrau and Grau. But the concept didn’t work; not enough relevant exhibitors came to Cologne this year, nor were there enough visitors for this segment. So Orgatec has yet to prove that it can serve as an alternative to Imm.

‘Single-Seat’ from the ‘Insit’ range by Wilkhahn – a mobile retreat for individual work and relaxation in the office | Photo: © Wilkhahn
Mobile bench – also from the Insit range by Wilkhahn | Photo: © Wilkhahn
Photos: © Thonet

New Simplicity

The crossover between work and home was the subject of many innovations: German upholsterer COR, for example, adapted its comfortable ‘Jalis’ sofa range for contract use by adding high backs, shallower seat depths and firmer upholstery. De Sede introduced the Flow sofa, which unfolds like a meandering recliner. E15 showcased an unobtrusive, high-quality cabling solution from Australian company Zetr; the slim, flush-mounted sockets blend well with E15’s classic solid oak tables. Conspicuously, several manufacturers presented straightforward designs. Wilkhahn showed a prototype of a swivel chair with a moulded wooden shell and suspension, reminiscent of a workshop chair. One of Thonet’s new products is the four-legged tubular steel chair S 243, also with a moulded wooden seat. Such pieces use comparatively little material and avoid large plastic components. Instead, they exude a certain Spartan, retro appeal, which is reflected in their price. Thonet’s chair will be available for less than 300 euros.

Revising Product Portfolios

Thankfully, the days when countless manufacturers proudly proclaimed that their new releases were particularly eco-friendly because they used materials made from recycled PET bottles are over. No longer a superficial marketing exercise, sustainability is now being taken seriously in the development departments of at least some companies. Existing products are being redesigned, not just new ones launched. Kvadrat, for example, now makes its best-selling Time 300 curtain fabric from recycled polyester. Création Baumann now uses sound-absorbing panels made from textile waste in some of its acoustic panels. Object Carpet is gradually updating its portfolio with a recyclable carpet backing. Walter Knoll has redesigned the upholstery and covers of its office and conference chairs, offering the first models with easily removable covers and foam-free upholstery. Spanish manufacturer Bõln is also making waves with furniture made from plant-based PU foam, a material the company has spent years developing.

Design meets sustainability: Both the Hemp chair and the frame of the Flax table are 100% plant-based, biodegradable and recyclable | Photo: © Vepa

Services Rather than New Products

The large number of conventional product launches at Orgatec makes the otherwise positive initiatives seem somewhat meaningless. They fall far short of what is needed to move the industry away from a focus on selling as many new products as possible towards a circular economy. As is often the case, the Netherlands is ahead of the game: at the Vepa stand, visitors could not only test furniture made from recycled or bio-based materials, but also see Vepa’s efforts to refurbish and reuse existing furniture. The company doesn’t limit itself to its own products, but also repairs furniture from other manufacturers. According to Vepa, the refurbished items are cheaper than new ones, allowing a circular economy to flourish as a viable business model. If this approach were scaled up across the industry, a show like Orgatec would look radically different in a few years’ time. There would be far fewer product launches and more services and solutions for existing furniture. That is, if a show of this size is still needed at all.

Back to the office? Lively discussions at the vepa stand in Hall 7 | Photo: © Orgatec

About the Author

Jasmin Jouhar is a freelance journalist based in Berlin, Germany. Her areas of expertise include design and brands, architecture and interior design. She writes for various German-language trade and general media, including the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the online platform Baunetz and the magazines Schöner Wohnen and AD. She also presents industry events and is responsible for corporate publishing projects. Jasmin Jouhar is committed to promoting young design through coaching, workshops and lectures.

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