The social side of the office

Change as a means of evolving and improving. This is the journey the workplace has undergone in recent years: from the standard, functional office designed primarily for day-to-day operations, through more flexible ways of working - including open-plan environments and, above all, working from home - to the more recent concept of a dynamic, hybrid and open space. The contemporary workplace is now conceived as an ecosystem: not merely a physical environment, but also a cultural and social one. Today's office remains a place dedicated to productivity and creativity, yet these qualities increasingly emerge from the connections, exchanges, conversations, ideas and experiences that the space itself is able to foster.

From this perspective, the concept and interior design that shape these hubs of interaction become fundamental. Greater emphasis is placed on lounge areas and meeting spaces, while communal and shared environments are becoming increasingly prominent. Furniture must therefore combine comfort and ergonomics with flexibility and adaptability, supporting everyday tasks as well as opportunities for discussion and interaction. These themes are central to the latest edition of Orgatec, held under the theme “The Space We Share – From rooms to relationships: designing spaces in an ever-changing world”. They also provide the context for the latest innovations from Pedrali, which, at its ninth appearance at the fair, presents new collections and extensions to existing ranges, reaffirming the brand's sensitivity to the evolving needs of the office sector and its innovative approach to design.

Pedrali's vision of the workplace focuses precisely on creating welcoming, interconnected environments that encourage relationships. This approach is immediately apparent in its #PedraliGentleHabitat installation (Hall 6.1 - Stand C021), designed by Milan-based DWA Design Studio. Covering 700 square metres, the exhibition space is organised into thematic settings with a strong emphasis on colour and materials. Meeting rooms sit alongside fluid environments for informal conversations and moments of relaxation, versatile spaces accommodating both work and social interaction, highly convivial areas, and workstations conceived either as interconnected functional islands or arranged around a large central table. Within this setting, attention is also devoted to acoustic comfort and even to nature, evoked through striking photographs by Milanese photographer Alecio Ferrari. Furniture becomes the true instrument of change.

One example is Ondine, designed by DWA Design Studio, a new collection of sound-absorbing panels that organise, divide and enhance the comfort of interior spaces. Its distinctive undulating motif creates visual depth and is interpreted through different versions and dimensions. Ondine Wall brings character to vertical surfaces through a variety of configurations; Ondine Partition, suspended from adjustable steel cables, creates effective room dividers; while Ondine Desk defines individual work areas and improves acoustic comfort at workstations.

The sense of fluidity expressed visually by Ondine also finds its counterpart in a versatile modular seating system: the new Buddy Oasi Serpentine by Busetti Garuti Redaelli. Extending the Buddy Oasi collection, it makes it possible to create virtually endless, reconfigurable compositions. The new system retains the defining features of the Buddy family: generous proportions, colour, movable backrests and the contrast between the substantial volumes of the seating and the visual lightness of the aluminium legs. It introduces an additional level of flexibility through three modular elements - a central unit, a 45-degree corner unit and an end unit - equipped with dedicated connection systems that allow them to be joined together into continuous configurations.

The Buddy family expands further to offer even greater versatility and functionality in the creation of dynamic environments. New versions on castors are introduced for the Buddy poufs, Buddyhub Desk and Buddyhub Sideboard. The addition of castors makes these furnishings easier to move and allows spaces to be quickly reconfigured according to changing requirements, supporting new ways of working and encouraging the creation of ever-changing, dynamic layouts.

Orgatec also provides the stage for other product innovations, including an updated Arki-Table Desk, enhanced by a new lighting system. A central bridge-like structure illuminates the work surfaces, recalling traditional library tables while ensuring visual comfort and a high degree of personalisation. The lighting is dimmable and can be controlled independently. The system's versatility is further enhanced by the availability of two heights, as well as the possibility of accommodating plants or small objects on its upper section. The Polar task chair collection by Jorge Pensi Design Studio also expands with a new version featuring coloured mesh, available in Terracotta and Sage Green. A collection that encapsulates Pedrali's vision: minimalist aesthetics, maximum functionality and comfort, and a design philosophy centred on wellbeing.