‘Box Sofa’ by Kevin Lahtinen and Ivar Gestranius for Loook Industries

In the grand, teleological narrative of design, things are developed to make our lives increasingly better. New forms, materials and technological innovations are introduced, self-justifying, attended by a clarity of function and value. But what happens when a new design typology comes into being for which there isn’t even a consensus on how to describe it? We give you the ‘In-Betweeners’ – a new series of office-furniture systems that are neither fish nor fowl. (by Simon Keane-Cowell)

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SynthesNeubau by Märkli Architekt; photo by Simone Vogel

Zurich-based architect Peter Märkli and his practice have recently completed this generous new building located in Zuchwil, Switzerland. Featuring a natural stone, recessed steel and glass façade, the four-storey SynthesNeubau is the new European headquarters of a medical device company and houses some 1300 of its employees. The lighting concept was developed by Zurich-based lighting studio, Reflexion. (more…)

Fukoku Tower by Dominique Perrault Architecture; photo © Daici Ano

Inspired by ‘a gigantic tree whose roots proliferate on the surface of the ground’, this reflective glass-clad office building was completed in 2010 by a renowned Parisian architectural practice Dominique Perrault Architecture. Located in Osaka, Japan, the 28-storey tower was developed for Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance Company and apart from the office space, the high-rise also encompasses additional facilities such as university laboratory, underground car park and a 4.900-square-meters commercial area. (more…)

The Crystal by schmidt hammer lassen architects; photo courtesy of the architects

Realised as an extension to the existing premises of one of Denmark’s leading financial services companies, Nykredit, this slanting parallelogrammically-shaped building has been developed by the Danish architectural practice schmidt hammer lassen architects. Named the Best Structural Design of the Year at last year’s LEAF Awards, the 6,850-square-meters glass-clad structure rests ‘on a single point and a single line’ while studio’s ‘holistic approach to the environmental strategy enabled ’to combine a completely transparent office building with an exceptionally low energy-consumption at 70 kWh per square metre.’ (more…)

NIK office building by Atelier Thomas Pucher; photo by Andreas Buchberger

Reminiscent of a supersized, three-dimensional chessboard, this eye-catching five-storey office building has been completed by the Austrian practice Atelier Thomas Pucher in collaboration with Bramberger architects. Realised in 2010 to house offices of a branding agency, the €1-million development is located in Austria’s second largest city of Graz, on the banks of the river Mur. (more…)

Glas Italia Headquarters in Macherio near Milan; photo courtesy of Glas Italia

The renowned Italian manufacturer Glas Italia has unveiled its new glossy headquarters located in Macherio near Milan. The 11,000-m2 steel-and-glass building has been designed by Glas Italia’s long-time collaborator, architect and designer Piero Lissoni who incorporated the original black-steel frame of what used to be an old factory and cladded it with vertical sheets of thermo-insulating U-glass. (more…)

'IE-TAGs' by Naruse-Inokama Architects

Small scale and sustainable architecture: the Shibuya-based practice Naruse-Inokama Architects created these beautiful post-its shaped like little houses. The paper is made from wooden waste collected at the construction sites the architects have been working on.

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The Austrian manufacturer for contract and office furniture Bene presented at this year’s Orgatec two new room deviding systems designed by the Vienna based designer Johannes Scherr. We met him and got some background information about the higly flexible systems. Enjoy!


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