In high office: Pedrali at NeoCon 2019

For three days in June, the attention of the commercial-design world turned to Chicago and the NeoCon trade fair. The event – held annually at The Mart exhibition space and now in its 51st edition – is the premier showcase for innovation and new products that will go on to define the future look of public spaces.

This year saw premium Italian design brand Pedrali’s first appearance at NeoCon. The aim: to highlight to the US market its capabilities as a producer of cutting-edge contract furniture.

Established in 1963, Pedrali has become one of Europe’s most respected furniture manufacturers. At its production sites in Mornico al Serio (Bergamo) and Manzano (Udine), it creates products that bring a contemporary character to public spaces, offices and homes. The company’s presence at NeoCon 2019 enabled a new audience to engage with Pedrali’s commercial collection across two different settings created by Milanese architectural studio Calvi Brambilla.

A special installation featuring the Buddy collection of poufs by Busetti Garuti Redaelli welcomed visitors to The Mart’s first floor. Poufs in various sizes and upholstered in complementary warm tones were suspended in the air like stars in the sky to create a display called Buddy Constellation. The same product was deployed as furnishing on the ground floor that highlighted Buddy’s versatility and ability to perform in a variety of contexts.

Pedrali’s main exhibit at NeoCon 2019 (located on the seventh floor) provided a comprehensive overview of the company’s latest office-furniture solutions. Calvi Brambilla created five zones to demonstrate different working environments that can be achieved using Pedrali’s innovative designs. The products, authored by leading Italian and international designers, were used to furnish versatile contemporary workspaces that sought to create a sense of wellbeing and creativity.

The first presentation area simulated an executive office, featuring items that combine practicality and timeless style. The Elinor executive chair by Claudio Bellini is a multitasking product that reflects the changing needs of 21st-century workplaces. Its pared-back style integrates high-performance components that optimise comfort and wellbeing by responding to the user’s posture. Elinor chairs were joined by Patrick Jouin’s elegant Ester armchair, as well as by the embracing Vic armchair by Patrick Norguet. The seats were arranged around the Arki-Table and were complemented by the freestanding Ray coat stand, designed by Pio and Tito Toso.

The second zone showed how intelligent furniture can fulfil the need for adaptability in the modern workplace. It included Arki-Table adjustable, which features a top that can be set at different heights depending on how it is being used. The tables were joined by the multitasking chair Temps by Jorge Pensi, and a wheeled storage system by Claudio Dondoli and Marco Pocci. The space evoked a place for focused work and was lined with sound-absorbing Snooze panels by Marcello Ziliani.

An example of a modern co-working space was also presented and provided an appropriate context for the dynamic Ypsilon tilting table by Jorge Pensi. The table was designed to be easy to store when not in use. It features a surface that can be flipped upright, as well as wheels that allow it to be rolled out of the way. Seating in the co-working zone was provided by Marc Sadler’s Tweet collection, which is available in a wide choice of frames and finishes to suit any interior scheme.

The fourth setting represented a modern meeting room where the Babila armchair by Odo Fioravanti and its namesake table were the real protagonists. Finally, a waiting area at the centre of the stand provided a space where visitors could stop for an informal meeting. Buddy poufs and tables contributed to the casual and welcoming feel for this breakout-style space, which created the perfect spot to relax and discuss the best direction for the future of workplace design.

© Architonic