The social sculpture was designed for a project commissioned by Vitra and investigates the notion of a landscape within the professional environment. Relating to natural environments, its’ tree-like shape allows various postures of sitting and leaning. The trunk performs as seat with a branch to lean against or rest your laptop on. The tree seat helps to turn an entrance hall into a public landscape to provide weary visitors or people waiting for friends with comfort. Upright, the waiting bench mimics a tree, but when it is pulled down, it becomes a high bench. Even tall adults can feel like a child while they sit high up on the trunk and swing their legs.

The idea for the WorkSofa grew out of our commitment to stimulate ‘genuine’ communication. We believe that by sitting differently we can influence people’s approach to sit different. After intensive research into the activity of sitting and the nature of maximizing social activity Studio Makkink & Bey have come across many different possibilities for creating a new furniture piece.

As a result of these, the idea of modularity and flexibility became the primary focus in creating the WorkSofa — essential ingredients when it comes to honouring the needs of our users. In every instance, the different characteristics of the WorkSofa offer many new possibilities and configurations in which stylish pieces of the puzzle allow for endless varieties of communication to occur.  From informal to intimate the modular WorkSofa has proven itself as an ideal setting for public meetings, presentations, brainstorm sessions and group work — or even a place to have a meeting with oneself.