Workbays

With Workbays, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have developed a micro-architectural system that redefines the working environment and breaks with the typical rigid planning structure of offices. Yet Workbays not only provide office planners with a simple, multifunctional furniture system. They also offer employees the freedom to seek out the optimal environment for the task at hand. Workbays configurations fall into three categories: Workbays Focus, provide places to withdraw for concentrated work, Workbays Meet, create areas for communication.

Thus Workbays create distinct areas where individuals or groups can retreat from the general office environment to carry out specific activities. The units come equipped with everything users need: work surfaces, seating and optional storage and power connections. Workbays respond to the necessity for noise reduction and help to absorb disruptive sounds in the surrounding environment. They can spontaneously serve as telephone booths, video conference rooms, reading corners, quiet spots for a coffee break or meeting rooms – without sending participants behind closed doors.

Subtle yet striking, the organic forms of Workbays add definition and structure to a room. Workbays installations are easy to plan and can be integrated into virtually any space. They can be combined, expanded or adjusted as needed to meet changing conditions. Versatile and lightweight, the units are simple to install anywhere in the room – with no noise, no mess and no damage to the building.

The structure of Workbays consists of slim aluminium profiles and organically shaped wall elements made of pressed polyester fleece. The use of this light and robust material is a groundbreaking innovation in the furniture sector. It helps to reduce noise and gives the office furniture system an inviting visual look and appealing textile feel. Slender in appearance yet remarkably sturdy and stable, Workbays are available in a range of colours.

Connectors - The patented connecting elements and structural design of Workbays ensure quick and easy assembly. All panels and aluminium connectors have an interlocking 130-mm grid along their sides, providing a lock-and-key system for adjoining elements. This makes it possible to assemble the walls of Workbays piece by piece. Only one screw per connector is necessary to secure the top and hold the wall elements in a stationary position.

In addition to their use as individual units, Workbays can be joined together to form clusters. Single wall panels are replaced by Y-elements, which attach the products firmly together to create diverse Workbay configurations that can define internal traffic patterns and guidance systems, thereby restructuring the space in the office.

Since the clusters have shared wall panels and profiles, Workbay products can only be combined if they have the same height and colour. Clusters are not offered in the Price List due to the great variety of possible combinations. However, it is possible to order Workbay clusters directly from Vitra without requesting assistance: simply order single Workbay units from the Price List along with additional Y-elements in the corresponding colour and height, or use the VCS planning software.