Emerging trends in furniture designs
By Surinder Sawhney

THE desire to be surrounded in a visible, perceivable, tangible good ambience manifested through intelligently and sensitively worked out art architecture and interior design is one of man’s most civilised impulses.

Throughout history and even today people of taste, knowledge and refinement have created designs in their surroundings to elevate their spirits and those of their fellowmen. Most of us pass the largest part of our day indoors, may be at home or our work places and, thus, the relevance of interior design in our lives, of which furniture is the most usable and visible component.

We may thus classify furniture design in two broad categories: 1. For corporate use; and 2. for residential use.

Corporate marketing strategists have realised that the market position of a corporate house can be consolidated and further strengthened by giving the company a distinct identifiable image. Some express their image through letterheads, interior advertising and incentive schemes. It is strongly felt and realised that the concept of corporate culture goes beyond product reliability and service.

In fact most importantly it includes the companies’ architecture, its uniform interiors and furnishings.

In earlier times little thought was given to office furnishings. Designers were rarely involved and the intention of the user was to instal sturdy rugged furniture and have his office working. Thus, earlier function was the only guiding principle, but with time the user started moving to aesthetical, maintenance-free and functional furnishing designs. The advent of technology, paucity of space, large-scale office automation and changing thought pattern of the user in terms of space and time largely contributed towards this change.

It may be appropriate at this juncture to discuss in detail the plan of basic unit required in any office i.e, a table and a chair — in earlier times a typical office table would be having a work top of 6’-0" x 3’-0" with drawers on either side, and the framework may be of wood or steel, Chairs were generally in cane and mostly in wood with arms and a high back rest, With time this design metamorphosised into a compact pre-laminated commercial board table with wooden lippings and mouldings, a work top of 4’-6 x 2’-3" accommodating the computer and key board either at a lower level as in the case of hotel lobbies or on the work top and a side unit to house telephone, Fax and other necessary equipment. Details of lamination lippings and mouldings could be modified to match the interior set up in totality. Chairs are generally ergonomically designed for healthy back and comfortable sitting.

Similarly, the user realised that hospitality in the office is one of the most modern forms of communication, and it begins with furnishing and equipping of the office with modern, sleek, aesthetic, comfortable and efficient furniture and fixtures. This realisation led to the redefining of furniture and interior design vocabulary of corporate set-ups today and it can be said without doubt that only those corporate interiors which can combine optimally the factors of climate, acoustics, lighting, plants, flooring, ceiling, tables, chairs, apparatus, wiring, software and creativity will be able to offer a comfortable work place.