
Knoll A3 Office Furniture System
Knoll International, New York
From the outset, the Knoll A3 project was a complete revaluation and overhaul of the conventional—and some would say outmoded—office cubicle. With a background in architecture as opposed to industrial design, Asymptote was predisposed to take an initial approach that was spatial and environmental rather than primarily object-driven. The project was seen as a valuable opportunity to rethink the dynamics of the office landscape: How do people interact in quasi-wireless, digitally equipped environments? How can one have a sense of privacy while also feeling like part of a larger community? What are the new emotionally charged forms and materials that we surround ourselves with on a daily basis? How can these be employed to create vibrant and interesting work environments and furnishings? How can a desire for versatility and flexibility be accommodated while at the same time maintaining a high level of efficiency? Can this be achieved while still bringing a sense of order and dignity to our workspaces?
Date: 2002
Client: Knoll International, New York
Design: Hani Rashid, Lise Anne Couture
Project Director: Noboru Ota
Design Team: Noboru Ota, Jose Salinas, Birgit Schoenbrodt,
Renate Weissenboeck, Hannah Yampolsky
Engineer: Knoll Product Development, East Greenville, PA
Fabrication Consultants: Tip Sempler, Bill Shea