DOCKLANDS - An Anchorage in the Office

01 November 2012

DOCKLANDS is the new, alternative workspace furniture designed for temporary activities. A “Me-Place” that supports concentrated and focused work thanks to the innovative partitioning of space and effective acoustics.

The integration of power connections and network access makes simple plug and play connections possible, and accessories such as lights and coat hooks provide a sense of privacy. A Service Dock for printers and other office equipment, the Coat Rack and the Phone Booth complete the DOCKLANDS product family.

Hustle and bustle is unavoidable, especially in open-plan offices. The new DOCKLANDS product line from Bene could be the answer. The small work alcoves, called Dock-In Bays, are protected bays where you can drop anchor and get some work done. They act as havens and complement the workspaces available in the open-plan area. The London designers PearsonLloyd explain: “Dock-In Bays are small islands, little protected bays, where one can dock at any point in the day and withdraw into more focused work.”

DOCKLANDS is an apt name. In the past years, traditional dock sites have been transformed into forward thinking and vibrant Hot Spots where the creative industries in particular have found their niche. DOCKLANDS has adopted this quality, taking the concept from its origins in city planning and resizing it to fit the office. DOCKLANDS is a place to take refuge from the normal flow of the work environment and concentrate on individual creative work.

From the inside, the Dock-In Bays offer a wide array of surfaces and textures. The work surface and dividing wall can be individually configured. Practical accessories can improve orientation, but more importantly they enhance the space’s ambience. An indicator signals whether the workspace is free or already occupied. There are also optional shelves that can be attached to the wall, coat hooks plus an integrated lighting fixture from the LED-manufacturer Nimbus.

These premium stand-alone workspaces can be configured in a variety of manners. The Soft Wall envelopes the workstation and thus the user, regardless of what type of arrangement is used. The free-standing Open Bay, with a U-shaped Soft Wall, provides a workspace that is sheltered on the front and sides. The so-called Single Bay has a Soft Wall more in the shape of a C and covers the space behind the user’s back.

It’s no accident that DOCKLANDS and PARCS have similarities. PARCS was also designed by PearsonLloyd for Bene and has been available since autumn 2009. As with the earlier line, this new series features rounded edges, inviting niches and upholstered, acoustically effective Soft Walls. The circumferential Soft Wall in a variety of colour choices and materials is characteristic of DOCKLANDS. Acoustic panels in the substructure prevent any interference echo and improve the acoustics in the space. In addition, DOCKLANDS elements act as visual dividers, segmenting the open-plan office without the need for any structural alterations in the building. This means that renovation is uncomplicated and always an option.