THE PUBLIC WORK PLACE OF THE FUTURE IS HERE TODAY AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY! PRODUCT GUIDE TO THE WIFI FURNITURE TRIAL

THE PUBLIC WORK PLACE OF THE FUTURE IS HERE TODAY AT THE BRITISH LIBRARY! PRODUCT GUIDE TO THE WIFI FURNITURE TRIAL 17 January to 11 March 2005

Index 1 Layout of Furniture 2 Introduction 4 Vitra 4 Kinnarps 5 Bene 5 Colebrook Bosson Saunders (CBS) 6 Boss & Haworth 6 KI 7 Ahrend 7 Orangebox 8 Hands of Wycombe

Wifi Furniture guide 11/1/2005 2:19 pm Page 4 Furniture Layout The plan below identifies each item of furniture and the manufacturer who designed it. Kings Library Ist Floor 2

Introduction The British Library has become the largest WiFi hot spot in, following its successful launch in July 2004, and we now have over 130 customers a day using our service. This unrivalled success has driven us in partnership with Building Zones, our WiFi partner, to look at how people are working with this technology and how the public space at the Library supports the nomadic worker. The initial investigation indicated that the current usage of café tables and chairs was not an ideal working environment for long dwell times and a review of the current availability of WiFi designed furniture in the market place soon identified that this was in its infancy. This led the Library to develop the WiFi Furniture Trial concept. The WiFi Furniture Trial provides an interactive exhibition presenting the best nomadic working solutions from ten leading European furniture manufacturers and has created a flexible working environment adjacent to the King s Library. Innovation has been the essence of the designs, from built-in power supply to storage facilities, and each item of furniture has had to satisfy the six key criteria the Library set the manufacturers to overcome in terms of: 1 Security: personal effects, equipment and information 2 Storage: bags, equipment and documents 3 Safety: trips, hazards and electrical equipment 4 Access to power: that is safe, secure and failsafe 5 Ergonomics: posture, lighting and workplace 6 Additional services: added value to offer to visitors and readers We hope you enjoy this exhibition and please feel free to use this new workspace. Your feedback of each item of furniture is essential to permit the Library and the manufacturer to assess the items in terms of meeting the needs of WiFi users. The furniture questionnaire can be found at the British Library s WiFi welcome page. 3

Manufacturer Vitra Joyn Manufacturer Kinnarps Café Saw Tooth Table & Plinth Bar Stool Joyn is the culmination of Vitra s 40 years of office research combined with fresh insights from the young French industrial designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. The Joyn concept is based on the insight that communication is the key issue of a contemporary office, with connectivity, interactivity and networking promoting collective intelligence. Joyn embraces the diversity of the workplace. It does not impose a way of working yet promotes many. Joyn, Joy and Join. Bring people together. Bring the ways of working together. With one language. Vitra Ltd 30 Clerkenwell Road EC1M 5PG www.vitra.com Often when a group of people become engaged in a conversation or impromptu meeting without sitting down, at least one of them will end up leaning against a wall or a door post. The support of the Lean Back maintains the benefits of standing up at the same time giving the user a rest. The upholstery is a natural breathable material, easy to maintain as well as durable. The Lean Back is supported by the Memo table, which has a laminate top and is a standing height table. This can be used for a coffee cup, to support writing material, a PDA or laptop. Kinnarps (UK) Comfort House Newlands Drive Colnbrook Slough Berks SL3 0DX www.kinnarps.com 4

Manufacturer Bene Coffice, High_Com Table & Sitz Stool Manufacturer Colebrook Bosson Saunders (CBS) Hercules Coffice is innovative furniture. A symbol for relaxed sitting and networking. For all those places where one wishes to be able to discuss, negotiate and network in a professional and relaxed atmosphere. At the same time it is also high-quality touch-down furniture for logging onto the internet or intranet. The High_Com table is ideal for stand-up meetings in reception and waiting areas or other communication zones. With its unique shape, a comfortable personal distance between people allows for a relaxed discussion atmosphere. The Sitz stool opens up a new dimension of mobility. Easy to move, it involves neither sitting nor standing but something in between. This one-legged creation is a sensible means of support for all those who do not necessarily want to sit while on the job, but do not want to be left standing either. Bene plc 47-53 St John Street EC1M 4AN Hercules is a technical post system that, in conjunction with other CBS products, can be configured to provide a range of different work and information solutions. These solutions include: small to medium work points, information and data points and multi-screen technical walls. The key element of Hercules is a vertical extruded aluminum post that contains an internal power and data channel. This allows any associated cabling to be neatly and securely routed through the product. This post incorporates details that allow small work surfaces, flat screens, CPU holders and tool bars to be fitted in minutes. Colebrook Bosson Saunders Products Ltd 35 Union Street SE1 1SD www.cbsproducts.co.uk www.bene.com 5

Manufacturer Boss & Haworth PC Point, Spin & Hello Manufacturer KI SmartKart with Go Power PC Point provides a hot spot location for internet and e-mail usage, the system can be mobilised to allow for an ever changing environment. The vertical office form provides a touch down area for nomadic workers and provides essential services such as light, power, security and storage. Spin is specifically designed for use in breakout zones, including lounges and reception areas. The patented product features 360 degree rotating arm with writing tablet that allows both the left and right handed user the flexibility of using a laptop, holding an informal meeting or simply browsing in a relaxed environment. This is a mobile personal storage unit developed by KI for touchdown plug and play activities and with it's own battery powered 13A 240 volt outlet block providing a fully mobile and wireless power facility for PC and phone charging for up to a day. At night the unit simply plugs into a mains charging supply. KI (UK) Ltd Commonwealth House 148/153 High Holborn WC1V 6PJ www.kiuk.co.uk Say Hello is a guest chair designed by Lynda Chesser and Bill Schacht of Chesser Schacht Design. This features a writing tablet with can be positioned for the left and right handed user providing a comfortable work space suitable for laptop use. Boss Boss Designs Boss Drive, Dudley West Midlands DY2 8SZ www.boss-design.co.uk Haworth UK Ltd Cannon Court 5 Brewhouse Yard St John Street EC1V 4JQ www.haworthuk.co.uk 6

Manufacturer Ahrend Ahrend 700 Manufacturer Orangebox Boundary This represents a new vision on office work, a furniture concept that allows us to keep up with a constantly changing work environment, to make optimum use of scarce space while leaving room for personalization. The core of this concept is the vertical desk on which all the equipment you need can be mounted, i.e. laptop, mobile or PDA as well as files and personal items whilst working. This concept provides for all the needs of the touchdown nomadic worker at the Library Ahrend Ltd Hogarth Business Park Burlington Lane Chiswick W4 2TX This is a modular upholstery system where simple, smart components can be used individually or linked to provide whatever scenario you need. The seating elements are constructed to provide a level of support and comfort that meets whatever functional demands are required throughout the day. Boundary s low arm unit can be specified to provide power and data at seat level. Combining this with the small or large writing tables means the Boundary can become your desk if you so choose. The Boundary creates a zone where people can work, meet informally or a place to escape to, to relax for new inspiration and a comfortable social setting for exchanging ideas. Orangebox 146/148 Clerkenwell Road EC1R 5DG www.orangeboxuk.com www.ahrend.com 7

Manufacturer Hands of Wycombe Adapted Lightyears Pod & Rapport Swivel Chair This is an adaptation of a standard product, encompassing a rechargeable UPS battery and an extendable worktop in a simple, compact mobile unit. The unit has been tailored to include secure yet visible storage, a Kensington locking device and an easily accessible 13-amp socket for use by Library visitors. The unit is complemented by the addition of a comfortable Rapport swivel chair mounted on a disc base that is linked to the unit itself. The result is a flexible arrangement providing a furniture solution that meets the needs of the Library by providing a remote rechargeable ergonomic workstation, easily maintained, having good working space and secure storage for the visitor. Hands of Wycombe 6 Dashwood Avenue High Wycombe Bucks HP12 3DX www.hands.co.uk 8