April 24, 2018

Text: Anna Gibertini

Hightower Brings Playful and Practical Design to the Workplace

Gimbal Low Back Rocker, featured in Madrona leather from Hightower and shown with Ribbon Table. Photography courtesy of Hightower.

The digital revolution has significantly and forever altered the way people conduct business and the way designers approach workplace design. The challenge remains: how to provide flexibility, comfort, support, and good aesthetics in today’s office. Interior designers not only need to find ingenious solutions that enable clients to keep pace with the increasing velocity of the digital revolution, but they must also discover ways to slow things down and inject beauty into their projects.

Four Cast’2 Wood Chairs with Teton table, Focus Privacy Screens, and Nest Chairs and Nest Side Tables. Photography courtesy of Hightower.

Hightower’s Spring/Summer 2018 collection aims to do just that, with a series of chairs, sofas, tables, benches, and sound-absorbing modular wall and ceiling treatments that elevate the workplace. The pièce de résistance is the Gimbal Lounge Rocker, designed by Justin Champaign, founder and principal designer of California-based studio Most Modest. Capable of both rocking and swiveling, the Gimbal provides release and comfort, allowing longer durations of seated, focused work to take place. In addition to a low-back option, a high-back version creates a refuge in public space by offering increased privacy and some sound-absorption capabilities.

Breck Round Table and Pill Bench with ash tops and upholstered in Maharam-Kvadrat Mode, shown with Timber Wall Panels. Photography courtesy of Hightower.

“The speed at which people are working today is quickening at such a rapid rate that it creates a fun challenge for designers,” Champaign says. “We have to account for this even at the concept development stage, working swiftly to provide relevant solutions that solve today’s problems and evolve to solve tomorrow’s, as well. I think the Gimbal, created for Hightower, does that quite well.”

The Breck Benches and Ribbon Tables, also designed by Champaign for Hightower, are simple and sturdy. Multiple sizes, heights, and finishes create the possibility for flexible and productive workspaces.

“The collection is simple and fun, but so thoughtful at the same time. To me, that is Hightower,” says co-founder Natalie Hartkopf.

Breck XL Round Table and Pill Bench with walnut tops and upholstered in Camira Main Line Flax. Photography courtesy of Hightower.

Hightower’s Spring/Summer 2018 collection includes Scandinavia-based designers Form Us With Love, GamFratesi, and Zilenzio.

Recent DesignWire