office furniture with a bit of humor softens high tech

Featured by Patricia Leigh Brown and the New York Times 1987, this is a digital version of an article from The Times Print Archive, before it starts online in 1996.
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In the words of futurist John Nesbit, he is often cited as the design master here, and \"high technology\" has given way to \"high contact \"--
Love more material, soft fabric and a little humor
At the World Conference on Environmental Planning and Design,
The new commercial furniture style debuted in the Chicago merchandise market.
And \"integrated power and cable management system \"-
Or where to put the wires.
There are still hundreds of office furniture, computers and machinery manufacturers here.
Looking at the chair, as in the past few years, is not the main focus.
There are a lot of gadgets around.
But many new designs at the fair
It is often referred to as Neocon, attracting about 50,000 architects, designers and \"facility planning \"--
It seems difficult to provide what a designer says is \"something that corresponds to technology and compartments --itis.
In the ocean of the system panel, it seems that someone is trying to make the office less ominous, giving it what the Paris designer Andree Putman calls \"a little charm \". \'\'\'\'Style is O. K.
Tom Newhouse says he\'s the designer of Herman Miller in the office.
Furniture manufacturer.
Natural Wood in Herman Miller and elsewhere
Warm materials related to the boss\'s desk --
Provinces that have been dominated by steel and plastic laminated materials.
For example, Herman Miller\'s portfolio series has a curved bow
Wood folding is reminiscent of art furniture.
Although computer cables and surge inhibitors are hidden, the overall effect is good.
Even in the chair of the mechanical secretary, advertisements try to tame the technology.
Just a few years ago, a chair was considered serious, partly because of how many gadgets it has, and this year\'s focus is on making these mechanisms invisible and automatic.
Warren Snodgrass, who designed the new catalyst chair for Haworth, said part of the reason is that \"it\'s dangerous to give people adjustments because most people don\'t know how to adjust the chair.
Mr. advertising.
The chair of the Snodgrass is designed to not lift the legs when one leans back;
A single lever adjustment mechanism hidden under the seat.
Italian designer Mario Bellini in his Figura high-
Back of Vitra seat company
He has long been committed to bringing a softer, more human look to the office.
Bellini hid a waist.
Support mechanism under the elegant belt of the fabric.
However, not everything is more human.
Neocon has a lot of wording, and sometimes it is difficult to decipher the language of the showroom when the salesperson and the salesperson refer to the office staff as \"end users\" and the office as \"facilities. \'\'Avant-
The mainstay of most offices is not an avant-garde design, but there are also some bold moves.
The most important of these is Bernhardt\'s work, the seat collection, which is one of the few really striking introductions on the show.
We want a new way.
\"I feel a little relieved if you like,\" said Lewis Norman, executive vice president, Bernhardt . \".
Collection-
Features works by architects Mark Mack and Paul Hague;
Michael Vanderbyl, graphic designer;
Interior and product designer Andrew Belschner and designer Lella Vignelli-
For executives, presumably members of the organization, who are safe enough to have fun. Mr.
Mike designed a United Nations Rocker.
Officey backwards
Only Maple Leaf rocking chairs in yellow, green or black.
The idea comes from bad habits, he said. He is referring to the tendency of executives to lean on their chairs in an unstable way.
When the current leg remains stationary, the hind legs are on the rails. Mr.
Hagrid\'s Sinistra design also explores the way people sit in chairs.
It has a sloping, asymmetrical top on its traditional base. There are left-and right-
According to the preferred seat direction of the nanny, the version handed over.
Although the chair looks strange, it is still very beautiful.
The most prolific designer at advertising company neocon may be Michael Vanderbyl, a California graphic designer. Mr.
Van der Bier designed two striking showrooms for business furniture at Bernhardt and Hickory, and designed furniture for both manufacturers.
His showroom for HBF features a forest of classical pillars (
The attempt at Palladio was not very successful, which is common on the show).
So is Mr. HBF.
Designed in Cambridge series, the elegant wooden chair with tapered legs, Vanderbyl recalls the early 20th century gentlyCentury design.
The delicate question of how to work with the boss at his or her desk is addressed in a Pace collection on a table called elite.
Displayed on the saddle
There is a stitched leather on top of black glass on the table
At the conference table on one side.
In the environment, the group seat consists of colorful modular seats made of Thai silk, with legs broken together like Leggo fragments.
Brickel Associates is probably the most bizarre Group seat ever.
Ward Bennett was there to show a long bench designed to fix Ellis Island.
His other designs include separate chairs, including Pi chairs
Wooden design made with pencil
There is a mysterious hole in the back. \'\'Try it -
\"It\'s comfortable,\" he said, adding, \"it would be even better if you were to listen to a guy talking about eight hours of computer software.
Revival and reproduction continue to flourish.
At the International Studio, Frank Lloyd Wright\'s midway II is a show
Stealer, the furniture company at Stendig International, Ecart International and Andree Putman have 15 new replicas, including a canvas recliner and Robert Mallet\'s charming brass and nickel doorsStevens.
The design of the restaurant is entering mass production.
Including oversized leather and wood Art Deco
Adam Tihany\'s stylish chair in Interna.
Kevin Rudd International\'s Volkschair embodies a new sensitivity to form, similar to an abstract sculpture when stacking.
Another brave new idea is the waterfall chair designed by Andrew belschner for Bernhardt.
Its choppy batten frame carries the idea of an indoor outdoor furniture.
At Hickory Business furniture, the Batten baby chair designed by Vignelli can also be placed on the ocean liner deck.
Some advertising fabrics featuring tapestries
Style embroidery actually adds texture to the office.
SunarHauserman\'s new fabric, called Omega, is inspired by the British Arts and Crafts movement, and flowers and leaves are interlocking, representing this trend.
Whimsy continues to emerge sporadically in office design.
The best possible is Gunlocke\'s Spring stand, which uses a spring dug out by 1957 Chevy.
\"This is the exciting part of my waiting room,\" designer Terry Hunt said . \".
The hard edges are decreasing and the most imaginative is through rubber.
Both Domore and metropolitan furniture show chairs with rubber details while at JG furniture systems
There is a re-introduction of rubberedged desk -
This is a perfect choice for busy executives.
A version of this article appeared on page C00001, the national edition, in June 11, 1987, with the title: office furniture with a little humor softened the high-tech.