Compiled by Peter Sobchak
BuzziJungle │ BuzziSpace
Many companies claim their products “elevate meetings and social interactions,” but BuzziSpace literally took it to a new level (pardon the pun) with a 10’ x13’ structure constructed from woven galvanized aluminum and finished with yellow lacquer. Kudos to young Belgian talent Jonas Van Put for mystifying white-collar NeoCon attendees so used to climbing another type of corporate ladder. www.buzzi.space
Hangout Collection │ Keilhauer
Keilhauer filled their shipping container to the brim, unveiling nine new products at NeoCon this year (a record for them), including a lounge chair series; conference chair; poufs; and a bench and table system. Snaking through the showroom was the Hangout collection, designed by EOOS, with six related products –Visit sofas and benches; Plunk ottomans; Sip stools and tables; and Ponder chairs –all tied together through the use of ash wood, steel and swooping curves and designed to facilitate group meetings as well as solitary work. www.keilhauer.com
Plaid │ Chilewich
A plaid is a plaid, but this is a different plaid,” said a rep at the Chilewich Contract showroom. And indeed, the bolder of Chilewich’s two new textile offerings launched at NeoCon (Speckle being the other), Plaid isn’t just your typical Scottish tartan throwback, but a new idea of how to integrate colour and weave in a way that works with spaces and materials without being ignored. www.chilewichcontract.com
(Los)t Angeles │Bentley
It is fitting that California’s largest commercial carpeting manufacturer chose that state’s sprawling vortex of a heart as its muse for the newest collection. Bentley’s (los)t angeles turns carpet tile into a lens to examine juxtapositions such as glitz and decay for which the city is renowned. www.bentleymills.com
Parallel │ Allsteel
Parallel, a newly introduced collection of soft seating and coordinating tables from Allsteel, offers a contemporary take on classic reception furniture. Created in partnership with Los Angeles–based designer Chris Adamick, the portfolio comprises a club chair, club plus lounge, sofa and side and coffee tables. www.allsteeloffice.com
Zones │ Teknion
Movable, connectable, detachable – PearsonLloyd wanted their new collection for Teknion to be the exact opposite of traditionally fixed and formal office settings. Mixing and matching the elements of Zones — seating, tables, screens, easels and semi-private enclosures – means offices can jump quickly to settings that are collaborative or intimate, lounge or table-based, open or semi-enclosed, seated or standing. Take your pick. www.teknion.com
Cubik │ SIXINCH
SIXINCH North America introduced a group of three new upholstered lounge pieces designed in playful, sculpture-like motifs. The Simplon, Viktr and Cubik (shown) all play with colour-blocking and can be specified as lounge chair, settee, sofa, three sizes of bench, as well as a connected version that seats up to three. www.sixinch.us
BLOX │ LOFTwall
LOFTwall Divider Solutions’ new BLOX systemcomponents are modular, movable, and available in 12 tackable wool felt fabrics that absorb VOC pollutants and come in colours ranging from neutrals to bolds. Made from 75 per cent recycled content, the matte anodized frame and panels can be reconfigured and recycled. www.LOFTwall.com
Synergy Collection │ Camira
Conscientious textile house Camira isn’t resting on the laurels on their bestselling Blazer wool. Instead, they’ve grown the line to include a slightly softer, stronger, lighter and brighter version called the Synergy Collection, comprising three new styles: Synergy, Individuo and Zig Zag (shown). These high-performance seating fabrics are made from New Zealand wool combined with five per cent nylon. www.camirafabrics.com/us
Burnish │ Innovations
By being located in Soho, New York and surrounded by so much fashion, Innovations Design Studio had plenty of inspiration to draw on for eight new wallcoverings collections in 2016, for example Burnish, whose large-scale, amorphic vinyl repeat replicates a frost pattern the designers found while window shopping for jewelry in the neighbourhood. www.innovationsusa.com
Sipario │ Snowsound
Designed by Alberto Meda and Francesco Meda for Snowsound USA, the new Sipario modular fiber structure reduces environmental noise, so that sound energy dissipates into the ‛air spaces’generated by the high-density textile layers of the structure. www.snowsoundusa.com
Luray │ Global
Designed by Synergy Associates for Global, the Luray upholstered seating series looks equally great around the conference table or behind the executive desk. The polished aluminum can be specified with a urethane or wood top cap, and contrasting stitching is also available to compliment a wide selection of textiles or leather covering. www.globalfurnituregroup.com
Trea │ Humanscale
With an earlier soft launch that earned the Trea numerous awards including the Red Dot Best of the Best, interest in the multipurpose chair from Humanscale and designer Todd Bracher was high at NeoCon, marking the first time the chair is available to market with an array of customizable options, including multiple bases and finishes (with new upholstery and seat options coming soon). Most notable is the solid state recline mechanism that pivots to follow the natural point of rotation at the hip. www.humanscale.com
Cloud │ Davis Furniture
The Cloud chair, designed by Wolfgang C.R. Mezger, brings a new level of comfort and security to the modern office. The seat and back pad are a blend of down, feather and polyester fiber cushions, and reinforced copolymer casters have a brake feature that prevents the chair from rolling away without weight in the chair. www.davisfurniture.com
Sherbrooke │ EarthWerks
EarthWerks debuted a new WPC collection, called Sherbrooke. The vinyl planks are waterproof, yet look like typical wood flooring. The result is a product that adds a sophisticated, residential look and imbues a feeling of “home” into commercial spaces. www.earthwerks.ca
PARA.MI │ Waldmann Lighting
New at NeoCon, what makes the PARA.MI unique is that it allows users to combine individual elements to construct their own desktop luminaire, such as a round or square head; adjustable single or double arm; round or square base; various connection possibilities for furniture; and black, white, silver, red or custom colours. www.waldmannlighting.com
