For two decades Swedish brand Zilenzio has developed solutions that reduce noise and visual distractions in corporate environments. From acoustic wall treatments to screens, the company offers users products that promote productivity while seamlessly blending with any interior.
Focus Spaces is an extension of Zilenzio’s popular Focus family of room dividers, which was introduced in 2016. For this iteration, Zilenzio once again teamed up with the Stockholm-based Note Design Studio to produce seating and tables that allow users to maintain privacy but also collaborate with colleagues.
Focus was launched when employees were concerned about the lack of individual private spaces in open-plan hubs, which can inhibit focus. Now, in the era of hybrid schedules, there’s an emphasis on connection when staff is together in the workplace. “The original Focus came about during the early days of co-working spaces, and so we came up with a table screen, which could be placed on a desk as a mini personal zone,” says Kristoffer Fagerström, product designer and partner at Note. “The office environment changed post-pandemic, and people wanted to meet and have real conversations again.”
For the Note team, Focus Spaces is a new typology, a hybrid that pairs the comfort of home with the functionality of the office. Unlike most options on the market that have hundreds of pieces that can take hours to assemble, this updated version was made as simple as possible. “It’s a modular, multifunctional system that we formed organically based on our earlier concepts,” notes Jenny Helldén, co-founder of Zilenzio.
A room-in-room, it consists of 17-seating modules plus two table types, a rectangular top and a square (an armrest is also available). Focus Spaces serves as an alternative to conference rooms or phone booths. Various arrangements suitable for small group sessions, and booking in advance is not required. Units can also be changed and moved as needed. Elements can be upholstered in 26 fabrics in an array of colors. Different textiles and hues can be combined on the inside and out of the panels and cushions for customized styles.
The designers spent almost a year perfecting the folds in the material, a contrast to the typical rigid contract furnishings that are uncomfortable. This added softness brings with it a warmth that makes spaces more inviting. With the collection, individuals can easily build a natural gathering place where conversations flow and ideas can effortlessly take shape. “Focus Spaces is not tied to a single task or efficiency, but it becomes the center of the office where all types of interactions take place,” adds Fagerström.
For more information on Focus Spaces designed by Note Design Studio for Zilenzio, visit zilenzio.com.
Photography by Erik Lefvander.