Return to


Cologne From 25–29 October 2022, Orgatec returns to Cologne after a pandemic- inflicted break. Cathy Hayward reports on what we can expect from the world’s largest workplace design show


Above The Orgatec trade fair brings together the most innovative companies from the ofice design sector to present the future of ofices


IT’S BEEN FOUR YEARS since the workplace design community descended on Cologne’s Koelnmesse for the biennial Orgatec trade fair. In that time the workplace world has undergone a seismic shift. What the themes and products at a 2022 fair would have been like had there been no Covid-19 is impossible to guess – one imagines a gentle evolution from 2018. Instead this year’s theme – New Visions of Work – leaves the debate wide open to talk about the pandemic’s impact on the world of work and workplace, and what the future really holds in a world where work has finally been completely unshackled from time and place. Not entirely unexpectedly the event is smaller than in previous years. Just five of the Koelnmesse halls have been taken on – a far cry from in the past. And some of the big names in the industry are notably absent – or were in July when the latest exhibitor lists were published. But at more than 600 exhibitors and 120,000 sq m of floor space, Orgatec retains its crown as the world’s largest workplace design fair. And, given the challenges in our sector over the past two years, a must-attend for everyone in our sector. Te show is focusing on nine key themes.


Forever flexible: shaping spaces with interior design Covid-19 has accelerated the need for adaptable office environments. Several exhibitors will showcase modular


solutions for dividing spaces into zones. Te Node+ system from La Cividina, designed by Ben van Berkel, comprises a series of upholstered parts, backrests, partition walls and accessories that can be combined in multiple ways in order to create spaces for work, relaxation, privacy or socialising. Meanwhile Mobel Linea and Palmberg also have new ranges for configuring office spaces using modular elements to divide a wide variety of workspaces into zones.


Versatile all-rounders: multipurpose furniture It’s not just space which has to be multifunctional – furniture does too. Examples on display at Orgatec will include the Fundamentals cabinet system from Lande or the benches and stools in the 4SIX collection from SMV, which can be rearranged quickly and in many different ways. Te models in the new Pontis Hypa range from ASSMANN Büromöbel, on the other hand, can be used as desks, seminar tables or bistro tables. Tanks to their rechargeable batteries, the tables are height-adjustable and their tabletops can be positioned vertically to serve as whiteboards. Trough the use of magnetic supports, the Stay Agile whiteboards from Swiss manufacturer Adeco are as flexible as their name suggests and can even be used as meeting tables. Te new, multifunctional Slide table system designed by the kaschkasch design studio for Renz is


KOELNMESSE GMBH, THOMAS KLERX


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149