WORKSPACE BENCHING DESIGN (1) – ADAPT

  Since returning to Cape Town from Cologne, I have put the product development of the Benching System concepts onto the front burner, not easy, as the year end rush gratefully is upon us.

The first design of this new low cost concept is a derivation of the product ADAPT which is marketed exclusively by CO Design    and The Fish Group  , they have completed several major installations for both national and international recognised names in the course of this year. The product is designed and manufactured in the Western Cape and uses only local SA produced materials and suppliers.

The WORKSPACE BENCHING DESIGN essence is a universal upper, knock down, under top structure supporting screens, tops, both sliding and static and the leg block, site assembly requires only a single Allen key. Cable management in the form of a hinging wire cable tray is slung under cross beams. It is my intention that monitor arms, LED lights and upper / lower level power packs are also fitted to the under top structure allowing all wire reticulation to be completed before tops are fitted.

The leg detail of the ADAPT RANGE is based on a triangular steel section welded into a top channel either at an angle or straight, for recessed inner mid supports. Purpose made plastic height adjusters are also used as end caps and designed to accommodate either client’s logos their Clients branding.

     www.codesign.co.za                                                           www.fishgroup.co.za

A BRIEF HISTORY

After attending the local Art School in Grimsby I was introduced to the world of three dimensional design whilst attending the Regional College of Arts and Crafts in Hull where I obtained the NDD certification in Exhibition Design.

After four years in London working in both exhibitions and interiors I moved to Cape Town in 19 69 to join a design group associated with an architectural practise. I was part of Design Research Group until 1978 working on Interior projects including hotels, office interiors and the Conservatorium of Music in Stellenbosch.

In 1978 I left DRG to start my own interior design company and at the same time was employed on a consultancy basis with Brown and Neethling an office furniture manufacturer specialising in timber office products. In 1983 they asked me to join them on a full time basis to focus at that stage on a new banking hall image for Trust Bank and develop products suitable for the commercial market. In 1986 I was appointed Design Director of Brown and Neethling.

Brown and Neethling sold out to the KH Group who eventually became part of SA Breweries who in 1998 shed itself of their interests in office furniture. Following the normal retrenchment process of the whole group I started my own company once again to continue designing office furniture that had been my main focus since 1978. The market at that time was not receptive to paying for design work, so I began to supply certain metal components of the range that I had designed and was marketing to improve the financial viability, this action led by chance rather than design to the beginning of WORKSPACE SOLUTIONS as a manufacturer. 

In 2000 WORKSPACE SOLUTIONS started manufacturing legs and components for the office furniture industry. The first factory, a 100sq.m unit was situated in Stikland in the Western Cape. I was able to purchase that unit in 2003 and in 2004 the adjacent unit. In 2007 we moved to our present factory as the business was slowly and consistently growing. My business is based on the lessons I have learnt in the intervening years in the industry, that of supplying a quality product, trusted on time delivery and at a competitive price. The overriding driving force within WORKSPACE is the continuing commitment to product development which is my love and passion. We have grown substantially in the last twelve years and with that our name and reputation in the office furniture industry. We are a company that employs local labour and suppliers. I do not approve with the mass importation of products that may improve the balance sheet but destroys rather than builds the local economy.

Although this is my seventieth year the creative side of my brain continues to function, possibly better than ever, partly due to being continually able to accept new ideas and now share responsibilities.  Simon, my eldest son, joined the company in September and has taken over as Business Manager allowing me to continue to focus on product research and the project development.

This BLOG is my attempt to share design thoughts with anyone interested in seeing how a design process works in the local economy and marketplace. 

A ROAD LESS TRAVELLED

 In October I attended the Orgatec trade fair. I decided for this visit to try a different hotel to the norm, it was built in 1870 as a water tower and converted recently into a hotel. Hotel im Wasserturm, I can as a designer thoroughly recommend. The interiors are creative the internal volumes out of the ordinary and the service exceptional, photographs of the hotel can be viewed at www.hotel-im-wasserturm.de. I would certainly use the hotel again even though it is not in the centre of Cologne.

In the hotel handbook there is a saying “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference”. I believe this saying by Robert Frost can also be used in the world of industrial design where seeking solutions outside the paradigm can make that difference; I have always enjoyed taking that less travelled pathway.

At the hotel I was introduced to the world of Blogging by a fellow guest, this introduction was the the method of communication in planning my exit strategy from Workspace Solutions spanning over the next five years that I had been waiting for, to that guest thank you.

 If I have to coin a phrase that explains my walk along the less travelled path it is “that it is the journey rather than the destination that gives me the joy for life and design”. My career path is a journey that continues to fill me with passion and my company the vehicle to convey my creative ideas.

ORGATEC 2012

The visit to the Office Furniture trade fair ORGATEC in October of this year was in the thirtieth year since I first visited the show. The changes to both the content and scale reflect not only on the economy but impact the digital world is having on the profession that life chose for me.

It was four years ago that I last visited Cologne and in that time the fair continues to shrink in size, gone are many major names and the flamboyant theatre of past years, the bite of the recession obvious to all.

I visited the show not with a camera but to feel the direction that colour, material usage and form the wider industry is taking, relating to WORKSPACE SOLUTIONS research and development. My personal focus being in the shape and design of legs and under structures as  it is relevant to the South African market. My first impression was the superb quality of the aluminium castings, the finish of the powder coating and chrome, tops were slim, colours in general white, black, grey and silver and only the occasional bold hint colour that not for the sake of the show. Of the sectional form of legs square, rectangular, round in chrome, triangular, angled tapered, either in the flat or round together with cast aluminium in various forms were in abundance, legs set at angles was also a feature that was not evident four years ago, but again the quality of the European product was so good. The eastern manufacturers in office furniture must throw away their cameras and understand design is in the quality and absolute attention to detail not in pricing and volume (my personal opinion possibly not shared by the accountant class)

The quality of detailing in connecting components most impressive, leaving me most envious as to what can be achieved when the scale of the market warrants the investment. Height adjustable features I did not focus on but again there were examples of well designed structures that did not shout their main function.

There were some examples of the use of timber as the leg structural component but none that showed signs of innovation, this is one area where I feel the desire to explore, and will, in the course of the next six months continue to develop in that area that I started several months ago using bamboo as the medium, though possibly an alternative in a bleached beech speaks to me.

Another benching frame structure using small diameter steel rod was shown on Narbutas a company from Lithuania, the design also featured a similar structure above the work surface supporting one of the few central overhead storage options, www.narbutas.com their AIR range. The design solution consider was not developed or the detailing of an interesting nature but at least it was an alternative movement away from the pack. Again here, for a smaller niche market, I believe is an opportunity for future development and have a concept ready to test its lateral stability, details are already in formation, as with many things if we do not attempt to push the envelope we develop stagnation.

Randers+Radius GRIP range had both interesting locking detail on the central support beam and had used colours, the A frame tee section detailing was different and refreshing.  www.randersradius.dk      

                                                             

On the REHAU stand there was an interesting concept of a vertical sliding front to a storage unit that lifted above the top of the storage unit it was closing to form additional privacy or screening. The door could be faced in a various finishes for sound absorbency or writing surface. The edgings they produce I did not see but believe they had products worth further investigation. www.rehau.com photographs can be seen on their ORGATEC highlight link. 

 The one company that I found the most innovative was CASTELLI to me a name from the past who   spoke the language of passion in their approach to design, they had developed a benching system with a central visible extruded rail, the leg out of cast aluminium was angled with a hollow centre section, whether this was a design feature using less material or not it was to me the most interesting concept in production at the show, which coupled with its orange powder coating was most distinctive, why designers do not introduce more colour into legs I do not know. In the 60’s orange was a very popular colour, my grounding began in that period and my brain does not stop accepting new ideas, thoughts and concepts. www.castelli1877.com their OPEN BAY range, in their photographs it is in silver which loses some of its dynamism.

Of sound absorbent desk mounted screens one product used in buildings could be developed further, this utilised horizontal pine slates approximately 10 x 10mm with a 5mm gap between which could then be double faced the space between having sound absorbent infill, the visual impact very different from the everyday fabric screens with a much greener footprint, the light coloured horizontal lines being in symettery to the desking lines. www.liqnotrend.com

One of my main purposes in visiting the fair was to see the various types of monitor arms available as I would like to either supply or specify a product that can become integrated into the central beam of the benching or attached in some way so that all wiring and screens can be attached prior to tops being installed. I located one product that suited my thought pattern and have ordered samples for testing and client reaction. One of the vertical support posts I have, requested to be modified so that on a double bench it can serve both sides. The units also have a mechanical height adjustment facility in addition to the swivel action, which is more cost effective than a gas lift. The most exciting accessory to the product though is the incorporation of beautifully designed LED lights. An exclusive agreement has been reached with the company in question and the incorporation of the product with my own benching systems I hope to be on view before the Christmas shutdown.

Of sliding tops I saw but one, easily movable but having a tendency to pivot slightly, one company I spoke to considered they may be coming back into vogue time will tell.  I have incorporated sliding tops in my designs in the past but with the new benching substructure I am able to incorporate this feature at marginal extra cost. The mechanism so simple and smooth, all it requires in addition to the actual slide mechanism is the accuracy which CNC machining can achieve.

Was the show a worthwhile visit? I achieved my primary goals of sourcing monitor arms and LED lights. The direction I am taking the company in relation to current product development with both WORKSPACE CLASSIC and WORKSPACE BENCHING I am more than comfortable with. The support upper frame is cost effective with spans up to 2400 achievable and has full cable management facilities. The system can also be adapted for meeting or boardroom tables and my development plan caters for up to twelve different designs enabling me to provide exclusive packages to both new and existing clients