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I recently visited the Coalesse showroom, which just opened in Chicago's Merchandise Mart. Coalesse is, among other things, about image and craft, partnering with iconic designers and brands, creating thoughtful pieces that would look appropriate for both office and home. More interestingly however is their approach to what constitutes an office in the first place.
When I first heard about Coalesse, I was under the impression that the target market for their products was the "home office". While the style certainly fits, the price tag is not what most would consider reasonable for their homes.
This was my misunderstanding, really. The brand is more about bringing the nature of the home office, with all of the comfort, accessibility and variation that entails, into the corporate office.
Incorporating home and family dynamics into the way offices are built challenges the traditional approach in a smart way. Executives today do not work in the same fashion that they did 50 years ago, yet many still feel that the corner office with the giant desk is representative of executives. In addition, employees are looking to work for companies that express alternative approaches to productivity.
The layout pictured above brings to mind a meeting with associates at a late-night diner (at the showroom, Denny's was mentioned). These types of meetings are rarely adversarial, are typically inspirational, and invite collaboration and communication. The Wishbone Chairs by Hans Wegner have a residential appeal yet have the fine craft and durability that is needed for commercial applications.
Coalesse has a foot planted in sustainability (who in their right mind doesn't these days?), but the real allure to the consumer is going to be the quality of materials, the attention to detail, and the company's approach to bringing the home into the office.
If you have a chance to visit the showroom, I recommend it. The space is nice, and they've partnered with MFA students from The School at the Art Institute to provide artwork as well.
I'd be interested to know what MoCo readers think of this notion of "home in the office". Have we moved beyond the cubicle, the ego-feeding executive office, and the pointedly elliptical board room table?
...thanks for the heads up, I'm just a few blocks away from the Mart. I'll swing by next week to check things out myself.
Not yet, but it's going in that direction and needs to.
Many companies are working at this team concept collaborative environment but still with the cubicle as the functioning environmental structure. I've seen hubs of comfortable zones like this featured above that will probably create a whole other mindset.
But I think of this happening primarily at the most innovative companies right now. Those who are truly committed to the process of innovation instead of being afraid of it.
My company has been toying with this for the last few years. Some teams have stripped out their cubicles in favor of an open floor plan and casual furniture. Other teams have fought hard to keep the small walls around them. I think it depends on the team really. If you have a 'home' atmosphere in the office, it requires additional sensitivity to your co-workers. Who doesn't have a loud phone talker in their office? Imagine that person without any insulation around them. In a large room, it can be hard to focus with so many conversations going on. And what about the people who hoard and packrat their spaces, versus the ones who prefer only the bare minimum? Ironically, I have found the exec's are the ones who need the least amount of personal space, as they are in constant travel and meetings. Where as the typical 'cube dweller' would benefit most having a closing door and private atmosphere....