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A touch of class at office too
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More and more offices go for exclusiveness when it comes to their interiors, says Swathi. V
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Photo: T.A. Hafeez
Made to order: There is a wide range of office furniture and models keep changing. -
Office furniture had never gained major attention in interior designing previously. What influenced the choice then was the functionality and not the form. Times have changed now. Spiralling growth of economy has resulted in phenomenal rise in the number of business and commercial establishments, in turn fostering the demand for office space and settings. Form has come to be considered an added parameter for measuring functionality.
“Architects come to us with a variety of demands. Every one wants furniture characteristic of one’s own office interiors. Hence, models keep changing rapidly,” said Maqsood Tumbi of Tumbi Home and Office Store Pvt. Ltd. Some times, the choice borders on craziness, with people choosing stripes and checks for chairs normally considered inappropriate for office.
Expert comments
Maqsood says that there has never been and there can never be a perfect model for an office chair.
“Suitability of a chair depends on the physical stature of the user. No two persons are alike and accordingly, no model can be a remedy for everybody,” he says.
However, a chair with a flexible ‘jaali’ or fabric mesh instead of pre-moulded foam for the backrest supports the spine better. It prevents backache by assuming the shape of the back as against the cushion enforcing the shape. Costing Rs.2,500, it is suitable for those who work in sitting posture for longer hours. There is also a variant with a thin strip of foam inserted inside the mesh.
Tumbi has a range of executive chairs with hydraulic gas-based height adjustment. The backrest is equipped with a locking system to control the scope of reclining. Choice is among 120 colours and 10 models with cost ranging from Rs.2,500 to Rs.22,000 each.
Imported chairs in leather costing from Rs.8,000 to Rs.22,000 are more suitable for the managerial positions. Domestic chairs can have, apart from leather, rexene or tapestry in synthetic or cotton or crepe. Some are available with patterns and self-designs too.
Visitors’ chairs need to be light in weight and simple to serve their functionality. “People are looking for stackable chairs as space is very dear these days,” says Maksood.
Choice is among perforated chairs, ‘Coffee-Day’ chairs, and mini sofa sets. Mini sofa sets need special mention because they offer exclusive comfort within a width of 22 inches when used as individual chairs. When two or three of them are joined together, they look like a miniature sofa set.
Drawbacks
State of the art showrooms prefer discussion tables to a straight-line seating arrangement. Plywood chairs with cut patterns are best suited for the purpose. A stackable white-cedar with absolutely no joints costs about Rs.1,450. UV-resistant synthetic cane chairs are mostly used in balcony settings. Medium Density Fibre is replacing whole-wood in office desks. Imported counters with an anti-skid writing space to hold the paper and slots for wire management are becoming quite popular for managerial desks. Available with side-boards, each comes with a unique front panel. Sliding panels for holding the keyboard are passé what with majority of the managerial staff possessing laptops. Now they are relegated to side boards just in case of an odd requirement. Price of a managerial desk ranges from Rs.8,000 to Rs.20,000, depending on the size and model.
“The problem with imported furniture is that no two models are identical. Any future requirement for similar pieces of furniture can never be fulfilled,” says Maqsood.
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