Soft Work Sofa

Since the advent of computers, office structures and work habits have never been so radically transformed.

Public spaces are turning into workspaces: Thanks to communication technologies, people can now work in hotel lobbies, coffee shops, airports and even parks. And vice versa, offices are becoming public spaces: Many companies are now creating open and inspiring spaces where employees – or visitors from outside – can relax, organize meetings or spend the day working. Since work is no longer tied to a specific location, new patterns of behavior have developed and these are gradually being reflected in the office.

The sofa, for example, has become a place to work on, even though it is not ergonomically suited to the task.

With this in mind, Vitra and design duo Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby brought together expertise from the home, office and public sectors to design and develop Soft Work, a new seating system. Instead of creating a working environment centered around desks and side sofas, Soft Work has evolved into a system where desk workstations are centered around a seating area. Barber and Osgerby see this as a long-term development: “The work station is going down the same path as the dining room; it’s disappearing as an archetype. The time of the desk has passed. With mobile technology, you need a place to sit down occasionally or a comfortable place to spend time. That’s our belief.”

Soft Work offers a versatile platform for both individuals and teams. In addition to ergonomic seating options, users also find practical desk surfaces, sockets and charging stations. The mobile tables and chairs can be lifted and put away again as needed, and the addition of panels creates quiet and concentrated workspaces. Thanks to its modular concept, Soft Work can be easily installed in various arrangements, allowing architects to structure the interiors of a building, create specific focal points or define flexible public spaces.

Soft Work is available with casters for greater flexibility, turning sofas into central, adaptable elements in agile office environments. Seating arrangements can be reconfigured on the fly to suit workplace dynamics or the current project, and sofas can be easily pushed to the side if additional space is needed.