Inspired and wellbeing-focused community spaces have become intrinsic in workplace design. How do you see these social spaces and their role in the work environments evolving?
I see these types of spaces becoming more prevalent and vital. Most employees will need a reason and purpose to go to the office. They will expect a more elevated experience when going to the office and expect the office to be a destination for meeting, socializing, and growing. These spaces will also serve as cultural beacons for organizations, defining and setting the attitude for an organization.
Flexibility and sustainability are buzzwords in workplace design these days. How do you incorporate both concepts into your designs?
I think flexibility can have different meanings at different scales: furniture & objects and the overall space. Having some flexibility has been essential in allowing either the facilities team or users control their environment to encourage both user engagement and the organization performance. Flexibility will become even more critical given the lack of predictability in a hybrid work environment. Spaces will need to be more flexible and work harder to allow for growth, shift from individual work to group work. I foresee this becoming paramount as we plan and help our clients over the next few years.
Sustainability is a challenging topic in the built environment. Several years ago, the priority was on fast furniture. Our team and the design community broke from that trend, and we now specify more sustainable products. We see sustainability as a priority and expect our team to understand how we impact the planet, the project, and people through the furniture that we choose and the companies we work with. We are taking a harder look at our manufacturer partners by training our team what to look for and prioritizing certifications, what they do and the products they make. Transparency and visibility into a manufacturer’s practices are now a must. We want to know where, how and what goes into the manufacturing and sourcing of a product.
Where do you draw your design inspiration from?
Honestly, everywhere. From all corners of design and business. It keeps us hungry to learn, grow, and seek to improve the world we live in and what we do. When you take a step back, you often realize that everything can lead to inspiration if you open your mind.
What sets Two apart from the rest?
We consider ourselves consultants. We aspire to solve client’s challenges by being thoughtful, creative, and resourceful. We put the client first – what do they need? Which products and solutions solve their unique needs? We like to surprise our clients by going above and beyond- a product they hadn’t seen before, a custom solution we designed for them or hitting their budget while also achieving their design goals.
We’re glad to see the Gathering Table at your office. We’d love to know what made you decide on this specific piece, and how it syncs with your brand.
The Gathering Table is a product that has cross-over appeal. It could easily reside in the home, in a hospitality setting, or the office. The materiality and details work well with the palette and our overall space.
Over the last few years, we have been leading the movement in bringing high-end residential furniture and decor to the office. The Gathering Table is precisely the type of product we would propose to our clients for their spaces.
- Gathering Table by Edoardo Arricale
- Jasny Chair by Stephanie Jasny
- Photography by Thibault Cartier
