Vorwerk – "Office Vision"

The finest way to live at work: Vorwerk Teppichwerke uses seven work themes to display exclusive woven design for the office of tomorrow

Hamelin, October 2004 – Vorwerk Teppichwerke, one of the leading specialists for woven textile floor coverings, is again presenting design and production techniques never seen before. And these innovative and surprising elements now have a name: "Office Vision", a new design concept series for tomorrow's sophisticated office interior. As a concept to propose, "Office Vision" offers architects and interior-design planners a broad basic spectrum of design and production techniques that point towards the future. As straightforward contract work, the right products for wide-ranging yet individualised carpet design for the office of tomorrow. Vorwerk is presenting a total of seven work themes (KREATION, MACRO, STYLE, GLOSS, OMAN, LINEA and LUXUS) to a large trade audience for the first time from the 19th to the 23rd of October 2004 at the international "Orgatec" trade fair in Cologne.

Opinions may differ as to the demands placed on architecture, but that is not the case when it comes to the demands placed on interior design. The design and planning of a building's interior should always be oriented towards people's physical and mental well-being. Why? The only way to enable positive thinking and optimal work is to have a positive environment. And in its capacity as an area which commands space and imparts style at the same time, the floor covering makes a decisive contribution to a room's atmosphere. As these days we already often seem to be spending more time in the office than in our own four walls, the subject of office furnishing, and thus floor design too, are gaining ever greater importance.

"Living at work"
This is not only the motto of this year's Orgatec 2004, it also describes working in the office of tomorrow. Besides quality, ecological and health-oriented aspects, above all the soft factors are the ones which are going to be decisive for optimal "living where you work" in the future.

According to Johannes Schulte, chairman of executive management of Vorwerk Teppichwerke, "One trend we are observing is the increasing convergence of living and work areas under one roof. Large-scale construction projects such as the Frankfurter Welle in Frankfurt or the HafenCity in Hamburg show a tight meshing of work, living and leisure-time areas within buildings. This trend towards integrative solutions has a substantial impact on the interior architecture displayed in these sectors. Aesthetics, comfort, well-being and technical functionality characterise both modern office worlds and the worlds in which we live: In many cases, that hardly allows for any differentiation at all. With our products we are well ahead of this trend. Today we are already offering sophisticated solutions for the architecture of tomorrow."

Textile visions for the office of tomorrow
With "Office Vision", Vorwerk Teppichwerke is once again targeting its focus on the carpet manufacturer's competence as the supplier of innovative contract carpet solutions, and as a trendsetter and partner to architects, designers and builders. These seven visionary design concepts give an impressive overview of the kinds of design diversity possible in construction and design through the use of modern weaving technology. To accomplish this, Vorwerk makes use of surprising floating pile structures as well as intricate high-low constructions and glossy threads. The Vorwerk studies OMAN, STYLE and LINEA thus express that there is still a long way to go before the limits to material design in the woven sector are reached. It is quite intentional that the basic construction is being emphasised here as a style-creating element for the overall design. Distinctly visible and different-coloured warp threads make these woven creations uniquely attractive and impart them with a special colouring effect. LINEA presents itself as particularly elegant. The carpet catches the eye through a pointedly sophisticated "pin-stripe" look. The subject of flat weaves has been completely redefined with the development concept OMAN. An innovative backing construction and ultra-flat material surface combine to form a new and impressive whole thereby. The study Vorwerk STYLE presents itself as highly design-oriented with a surprising look: The widest variety of effects can be achieved through variation of the accentuated warp threads. These lend the floorspace an exciting depth.

With the design study GLOSS, Vorwerk is presenting exciting visions for combinations of textile materials using glossy threads and reflective fabric. And there seem to be no limits to the luxury for both eyes and feet, either. With KREATION and LUXUS, Vorwerk is exhibiting design-oriented possibilities which offer the architect numerous opportunities for creative designing ideas enhanced by the greatest luxury in feel and walking comfort. With its voluminous design, it's not only the look of KREATION which is so surprising, it's also the fantasy with which different-sized loops and pronounced high-low structures draw impressive images. An opulently woven contract carpet, LUXUS makes use of intricate grooving and cutting techniques to combine velours and loop into a luxurious textile experience. Even in the field of carpet tiles, Vorwerk Teppichwerke has once again given further thought towards optimal flooring design with the concept MACRO. The skilful variation of slim and voluminous threads imparts MACRO with a conspicuously lively surface. Alongside its special look, MACRO distinguishes itself through outstanding marks for durability.

With "Office Vision", its presentation conception oriented completely towards exchange and dialogue, Vorwerk is underscoring its commitment to increasingly address new target groups from the fields of architecture, planning, furnishings/office and management, and to integrate those groups into the dialogue. As Johannes Schulte says, "We view ourselves as not only a supplier of innovative solutions for textile floor coverings, but also as a partner to builders and interior designers. What we make available to them is our know-how in design, material development, ecology and health, as well as production technology from the planning phase to the full-scale realisation of architectural projects."

With "Office Vision", Vorwerk is equipping itself with pioneering solutions in order to expand its contract business in 2005 as well, and to design carpets which shall prove themselves capable of fulfilling the demands posed by the future. That means future generations, too. In addition, new paths are also being taken with other development projects (Thinking Carpet) in which the merger of computer technology and textile floor covering shall expand the basic uses known today and the aesthetic values associated with carpets with a new form of high-tech functionality.

Description of the concept studies:

MACRO

MACRO is constructed as a high-quality, discreetly structured loop contract carpet in a monochrome weave. The skilful variation of slim and voluminous threads imparts MACRO with a conspicuously lively surface. This special thread construction lends the carpet a look similar to bouclé; that look is underscored further through an intentional tone-in-tone dual shading. Outstanding marks for durability distinguish this robust loop weave alongside its special look. MACRO has been conceived preferably for use as a carpet tile.

GLOSS Products

With the product series GLOSS, Vorwerk is demonstrating design ideas in which successful contract carpets such as NANDOU design, KAIRO structure and IDEA design are being interpreted to match current trends. In addition, the newly developed SETHO offers further options for both high-quality and creative contract design. Vorwerk GLOSS products distinguish themselves through an elegant, yet simultaneously tightly woven loop construction displaying outstanding properties for contract use. The unique feature of all GLOSS products is a sophisticated look involving a gloss effect. The effect is generated through the use of specially constructed thread innovations deployed in different design variations. From contrasting colour combinations straight through to tone-in-tone shadings, glossy loops are available in line, block or cross patterns, as well as in widely spaced dot and line designs. Alongside "smooth" surfaces, the use of lancet technology also enables the production of interesting design variations underlaid with glossy relief structures.

STYLE

Vorwerk STYLE exhibits itself as highly design-oriented and a carpet with an eye-catching look. This study in carpet technology is a design concept on the basis of a new flat weave with a markedly open surface that intentionally displays lively highlights at the same time. Reminiscent of a mosaic, STYLE's look is produced through a special accentuation of the floating pile. The widest variety of effects can be achieved through variation of the pronounced warp threads. These lend the floorspace an exciting depth. In the process, the carpet's design-giving markings stand out distinctly as a result of the strongly contrasting colour (e.g. orange, silver, blue) against a black or anthracite-coloured background.

OMAN

With OMAN, a new flat weave, Vorwerk is presenting a construction concept that combines the advantages of a tightly woven loop with constructional refinement. This contract carpet produced from filament threads displays a discreet surface structure in a special "braid" look. That look has a particularly lively effect as a result of its two-toned design in natural-like shades such as olive, blue, grey and orange.

KREATION

Nothing is impossible. And Vorwerk is demonstrating this with its KREATION concept. In the case of this contract carpet, the interplay of the loops shows the degree of diversity possible in terms of design and construction. Not only the look is surprising: The fantasy with which the different-sized loops and distinct high-low structures create impressive images is equally fascinating. The blend of tightly woven and raised loops is laid out across the floor like a robust, coarsely meshed latticework – artfully woven high-low constructions display waves reminiscent of reliefs. Even ornamental motifs present themselves in astonishing configurations: As if forming a second layer, tightly woven loops spread as if embossed across the flatter woven pile. And colour creation is just as diverse as the loop design itself: With a world of colours typical of the contract business consisting of grey, blue, anthracite and black, Vorwerk is demonstrating the kinds of surprising effects that can be produced using a combination of different shades.

LINEA

The "lord" among the new contract carpets presents itself in a distinguished pin-stripe look. Strongly varying pile heights are the defining constructional element. They create the conspicuous ribbing. The flat weave impresses through its strongly horizontally accented look and intentionally graphic line markings. From discreet to eye-catching, this product can be laid out in a reserved, tone-in-tone hue or strongly contrasting as a "silver thread". LINEA convinces not only due to its particularly unadorned elegance, but also through its extraordinarily good and robust properties as an object product, too.

LUXUS

The name Vorwerk LUXUS sets the spotlight on luxury. High-grade threads and intricate loop technology let this woven contract carpet become a textile experience unto itself. In the process, an especially high pole weight provides for both opulence and the greatest comfort on the floor. The overall impression of elegant, solid quality is supported even further by a high, very fleecy pile. With the prototype for LUXUS, Vorwerk is already demonstrating the kinds of constructive opportunities modern weaving technologies have to offer. Linear aligned structures, block constructions or diagonal gradations are just as possible as interesting high-low structures. In terms of the conception involved, Vorwerk LUXUS shall be concentrating entirely on black tones.