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Vitra Citizen Office

posted on Jan 10 2011

• by Tine Castelein

What is Vitra's Citizen Office theme?

Vitra is not new to office furniture, they have research that goes back a few decades. They aren't doing it alone either, but together with leading designers around the world. This way they see how technical, economic and cultural megatrends have been influencing office work. The study was done to anticipate new needs and employ forward-thinking concepts and products in the search for solutions. The result of all this is the Citizen Office concept. This is how Vitra describes it:

The Citizen Office theme enables the demands made by today's companies and employees to be translated into an office situation.

New products that extend the Citizen Office

This brings us back at what Vitra has revealed at the Orgatec office furniture fair in Cologne. We personally handpicked a few of our favorites within the Citizen Office theme. What follows are the descriptions of the products by Vitra. We start with Antonio Citterio.

ID Chair Concept - Antonio Citterio

The ID Chair brings a subtle, elegant design and light colour tones to office spaces – and provides countless possibilities for people to adapt it to their own individual needs in terms of function, comfort and look. However, all design versions are based on the same technical and aesthetic vision. In addition to having a positive impact on the overall aesthetic of an office environment, this is also an invaluable help when it comes to maintenance and service. The ID Chair Concept empowers companies and their employees to define their seating to suit their own personal identity.

Ad Hoc - Antonio Citterio

Ad Hoc is the tried-and-tested office system from Vitra. Its modular furniture can be arranged in a variety of ways and helps to ring in a change in the office. It doesn’t matter whether the number of staff changes, new technology requires adjustments, or processes are redefined–Ad Hoc is flexible, and can cater to every individual need without having to change the entire set-up of an office.

Ad Hoc High Work & ID High - Antonio Citterio

The Ad Hoc office furniture system – designed by Antonio Citterio in 1994 together with Vitra and continuously developed further since then – is now also available as a standing system. The difference is that the work table is not raised or lowered, instead the user either sits on a tall work chair or stands at the table – switching between these two positions is both spontaneous and dynamic.

Playns Single Desk - Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

This individual workstation Playns is electrically height-adjustable. Desk system Playns facilitates switching between sitting and standing – which has been proven healthy – while working in the office. Large screens surround the individual desktops, creating barriers in open space offices.

Communal Cells - Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

The Communal Cells are versatile islands that feature walls of varying heights that not only divide open office spaces into different areas, but also reduce acoustic noises at workstations. Used as cloakrooms, printer islands or coffee corners, the Communal Cells serve as spaces that are also lively social meeting areas. They can also be used as work booths or retreat booths for teams or for individual work.

Alcove Work - Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

Standing while working is not the only alternative to sitting on an office chair. Lounge furniture also makes a suitable and productive change at work. Alcove Work – which depending on size can be fitted with one or more writing shelves – has been developed for individual concentration and small team meetings: it also affords visual and acoustic protection.