Named after the French card game, the Manille outdoor seating series by Extremis is more than a picnic bench for playing a few rounds. Its galvanized steel frame and European ash tabletop are covered by an awning with two options: an elegant soft fabric canopy or a fixed hard top. Multiple Manille pieces can be linked together for a sprawling table — but one alone makes for a simple, timeless gathering space. Backrests and bench seating accommodate diverse body types, and the table height and ends are wheelchair accessible, making it a more inclusive spot to come together.
Through telltale shifts in pedagogy (namely, the ways in which Gen Z has been educated using technology, working more flexibly and gathering more informally), U.K. studio Pearson Lloyd saw coming changes to how we co-create that will require employers to ready themselves for an evolving workforce. The design firm’s multi-piece CoLab collection for Senator provides an interesting solution, with a kit-of-parts for seating, zone definition and collaboration. Setups include tables with variable-height tops for standing and sitting that can be reconfigured to support large or small groups. Most exciting is the “spine,” a functional object that provides not only power distribution but also a casual, supportive structure for leaning or perching during conversations or solo work.
Designed by Snøhetta for +Halle (through Hightower in North America), Summit is greater than the sum of its parts — five components, to be precise, which can be assembled to create a customizable collaboration station. Pieces include light- weight, gently sloping curvatures or rectilinear forms that users can stack and attach easily with integrated magnets. A lounge configuration can transform into a workstation using retractable power cords included in select pieces. The set-up becomes a clever, minimal installation for group work.
These dynamic collections can support brainstorming sessions, informal meetings or a casual meal.