Escape the Agony of your Office

As I’m writing this, I’m looking at my surroundings.  The room is filled with light, the windows are open for a bit a fresh air, I’ve got some of my favourite books lined up in front of me for inspiration, and my eyes fall to the desk.  Ugh, it’s terrible.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s solid, spacious, and clean, but it was an E-Bay purchase because the hunt for my dream desk was taking too long. My pens are stuck in an old piece of ill-formed and oddly coloured pottery, and I won’t even go into the shoebox that holds the extra cords and memory sticks or the unsightly lamp clamped to the table. And yes, I love my Marcel Breuer chair, but it is not appropriate office furniture.

Why is it that I’ve taken so much care to make sure the room is inspiring, and yet the pieces I really need are abysmal.  Well, mostly because I just don’t have the time to go place-to-place hunting for the bits and pieces of my ideal office.  I deserve something better.  We all do.  Think about it, we spend a large portion of our time at our workspaces, they should inspire us, not make us want to run.

If you’re in Cologne next week, and this might just be worth the trip, drop by Orgatec at the Cologne Exhibition Centre. A fair for modern office furniture may sound terribly boring, but think about how much more exciting it would be to work in an environment you actually like being in.  It may be that all you need is a new lamp, or perhaps you’re in for a bigger purchase, like a chair or desk.  They’ve certainly got you covered. From classical furniture to modern lighting, it’s bound to be interesting to anyone with an eye for design.

If you need additional inspiration, on the 29th of October visitors can participate in Insight Cologne.  The evening will be filled with presentations, performances, and readings, all supporting the idea of visionary office design.  New trends from office layout to the facilitation of communication will be discussed, and tours through some of Colognes newest office spaces will take place.

White Line collaborator, Architonic, has created what is, in our humble opinion, undoubtedly the best guide to the fair.  It’ll usher you from carpets to chairs in no time, and has plenty of inspiring images and event listings to help you discover your own style. Be sure to drop by their booth in Hall 9.1, and give them a big “hello” from us.  You can download the guide on the Architonic website (so worth poking around on) here: www.architonic.com.

www.orgatec.com

Within a stroll of the exhibition hall you’ll find The New Yorker Hotel.  The minimalistic touch of architect and owner Johannes Adams can be seen throughout the space. Simple, gorgeous, and efficient rooms will have you thinking about how to redecorate your bedroom when you’re done with your office.

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Categories: Cologne, Design, Events, Exhibitions

Contributing writer: Alicia Reuter