it is safe to say that the pandemic has shaken-up the work environment – and flexibility in spaces has become a necessity. VITRA‘s modular office system, comma, takes advantage of the need for post-pandemic offices to adapt to change and opens up the eyes of companies and employees into what the future could hold. by mirroring the functionality – and aesthetic – of scaffolding, the furniture system is easily configured into numerous different layouts that define the space in endless possibilities, exactly as the user wishes; from single desk unit to bookshelf, to workshop space, to complex microarchitecture structures, comma offers countless options to configure workspaces.

‘office environments need to be attractive and entice employees to return to the office– otherwise they might as well work from home. office furnishings should promote their talents and support them in all aspects,’ remarks christian grosen, chief design officer of VITRA.

the comma office system by VITRA can be flexibly adapted to changing needs and is designed to have a long life cycle

all images courtesy of VITRA

the office system by swiss furniture manufacturer VITRA responds to current scenarios whilst anticipating future ones. young entrepreneurs cannot relate to the traditional, rigid office layouts of the past decades and seek to challenge the codes and rules of the more familiar working methods. the pandemic has opened the doors to a more flexible and hybrid way of working, where the office becomes a place of collaboration and team work while the home office remains as an important location for focus-work. comma’s modular basic structure is made of tubular steel with only six individual elements, which can be assembled by its users into endless configurations, giving them the freedom to create the environment best suited for them. 

‘comma is an investment in a flexible office environment that can be continually redesigned. it is easy to create structures and reconfigure them in countless ways with just a basic kit of parts – from individual workstations to shelving, from telephone booths to team benches and workshop spaces,’ continues christian grosen. 

comma’s modular basic structure is made of tubular steel with only six individual elements, which can be assembled into endless configurations – workstations, shelf units, phone booths, team benches, workshop spaces, etc.

recyclable, modular and flexible, comma also complies with the guiding principle of a circular economy thanks to easily separable materials and parts. the basic structure is made of tubular steel while the screens are in upcycled disposable plastic serving as absorbing black walls of shelf units, or as privacy screens and partition panels. all the elements can be reused and reinjected into the production cycle. overall, the system’s six individual components can be assembled into endless configurations – workstations, shelf units, phone booths, team benches, workshop spaces.

‘from the very beginning, we wanted to launch a durable and ecologically sound product that embraces the principles of a circular economy. comma is very robust. it’s a system with a long service life, which is further extended by its reconfigurability,’ continues VITRA’s chief design officer. 

the basic structure is made of tubular steel while the screens are in upcycled disposable plastic

the furniture pieces are available in a light or dark color scheme, spanning widths from 40cm to 2m to allow for extremely versatile constructions. comma, therefore, becomes ideal for both open space arrangements, workshops for team discussions as well as private sessions. the aptly-named ‘claw’ is essential for assembly as it joins together countless combinations. the addition of table tops, electrification modules and other add-ons or accessories is quick and easy to install, enriching the hybridity of the system.

‘that’s exactly what we wanted: a structure that can cover a wide variety of functions – shelves, tables, partitions and much more. a big challenge was to keep the comma modular system manageable. there are only six different individual parts. all the connections are clearly visible and easy to manipulate. nothing is hidden. each user should be able to comprehend the logic without getting lost in technical details,’  explains christian grosen.

‘comma’ is used as a modular office system in the zurich office of the international design and innovation consultancy fjord

the addition of table tops and electrification modules is quick and easy to install

the system’s six individual elements can be assembled by its users into endless configurations

comma becomes ideal for both open space arrangements, workshops for team discussions as well as private sessions

the modular furniture can be flexibly adapted to changing needs in the office environment

comma has been unveiled today in VITRA’s latest VITRA session entitled ‘dynamic spaces’. watch the replay and download the e-paper here: https://www.vitra.com/en-ch/sessions

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