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WORKSPIRIT
WORKSPIRIT
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desks by the dozen, since, in the end, this is the
most effective way to gain space. Sadly, it
makes me think of huge chicken farms. We al-
ways had in mind that the space you gain
through bench desks should be occupied by dif-
ferent workspace typologies that allow a mixed
landscape.
HW
Where you do find all the knowledge about of-
fice organization and structure that you need
for your design work?
RB
We don’t know much. I’ve
never worked for anyone but myself, so I was
never going to an office regularly. But, the of-
fices I have seen were almost all awful.
HW
What was so terrible about them?
RB
Not so much the aesthetics,
rather the atmosphere and the way people
treat each other in the office. Maybe you know
the film Playtime, where Jacques Tati is search-
ing for Monsieur Girard and gets lost in an of-
fice full of marketing people? Many of the of-
fices I’ve seen are like the one in the film.
Unfortunately.
HW
Is Le Bureau, the French version of The Office
a source of inspiration for you?
RB
Le Bureau? It’s pretty funny.
I like the series and the lead actor Francois
Berléand. But he lacks some of the absurdity of
Ricky Gervais, the leading actor in the English
version. In England The Office is even crazier
than it is here.
RB
I mean, there are so many things in this world that are organized terribly. I’m
very curious to see how we will look back on this idiotic era in 20 years.
HW
What do you mean? The economic crisis? The ecological problems? Or simply the madness of everyday life?
RB
Everything. One example is the way we work together, although sometimes
I also feel I am guilty of this.
HW
Why is that? Your furniture design clearly emerges from a democratic collaboration.
RB
That was the idea, for example, behind the Joyn: A table where everyone can
come together. But now I see bigger and bigger offices that have been furnished with bench
Illustrations by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
