Life is often a waiting game, but designers can make the wait as comfortable and practical as possible with these new furnishing options.

Axyl Bench
Allermuir
allermuir.com

Inspired by the pared-back minimalism of classic, mid-century Scandinavian furniture, the modular Axyl bench was designed for Allermuir by LAYER, a London-based design firm. The system is based around an inverted Y-frame in recycled cast aluminum, resulting in a high level of structural integrity and a strong architectural silhouette. It is available in a variety of interchangeable parts.

Heartbeat Lounge Seating System
Nienkämper
nienkamper.com

According to Nienkämper, the undulating Heartbeat lounge seating system addresses the social alienation that contract design can often impose on public spaces. To help encourage conversation and interaction, Karim Rashid designed Heartbeat with three reconfigurable and scalable elements that allow it to grow and change depending on the needs of its environment.

Lucio Lounge Chair
Established & Sons
establishedandsons.com

Designed by Sebastian Wrong, the Lucio Lounge chair is a response to the blurring lines between live and work spaces. The supportive foam and fabric body of the low-slung chair is connected to a tubular-steel frame with a textile cover featuring an upholstery effect with slashes at the base of the seat and headrest, inspired by the paintings of Argentine-Italian artist Lucio Fontana.

Gimbal Highback Rocker
Hightower
hightoweraccess.com

Hightower’s Gimbal Highback Rocker is a statement piece designed to offer the user the freedom to pivot, rock, and swivel, allowing for a longer sitting experience. Designed by San Francisco-based design studio Most Modest, Gimbal has a high back that offers privacy in interiors such as open offices or airport lounges. The base is engineered to be rigid and support movement on a range of floor types, while protecting upholstery from direct contact with the floor. Gimbal is available with a headrest or matching ottoman for additional comfort.

Kiik Collection
Arper
arper.com

Designed by Ichiro Iwasaki, Arper’s Kiik collection of seating, tables, ottomans, and consoles is intended for in-between spaces such as waiting rooms, university lounges, meeting areas, and mixed-use spaces. Kiik’s elemental forms are modular and now include additional options for armrests, backrests, seat dividers, and USB power charging. The bench is shown here in a three-seat and side-table configuration in front of Arper’s Paravan sound-absorbing panel system and magazine rack.

Office Phone Booths
ROOM
room.com

ROOM’s soundproof office phone booth offers a nostalgic solution to a modern-day problem: having a private conversation in an open office. Available in black or white with oak accents, the booth offers 1.6 inches of recycled PET sound insulation. Inside are two ultra-quiet fans, two power outlets, a built-in desk, and a magnetic board. A smart sensor activates the fans and an LED light, while a groove in the desk can hold mobile phones or tablets upright. An Ethernet port is available as an add-on.

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