bouroullec brothers expand GRID, a collection that responds to the rise of live-work spaces

in 2019, ronan & erwan bouroullec presented GRID, a furniture collection for established & sons that responds to the rise of live-work spaces and the changing attitude towards aesthetics in the working environment. following its successful launch, and looking at times when we’re forced to stay inside and work from home, a new extension of the original design has been added to the collection.

the working environment is no longer fixed — from offices to cafés and co-working spaces, the way we work is rapidly changing and as such, we are adapting. following the COVID-19 pandemic, many weren’t allowed to go to the office and instead, stayed working from home. in fact, many of us still do. with this in mind, the bouroullec brothers have created a bespoke room-within-a-room where the raw shell of the GRID range now provides a base for a modular seating, shelves, tables, charging stations and screens. this can be integrated in different ways to create a playful and multifunctional environment for focused work, informal meetings or simply hanging out.

‘GRID lands somewhere between furniture and architecture,’ explains erwan bouroullec. ‘the architectural purpose of GRID is to naturally create segmentation and to be continuously evolving. it is easy to revise by adding or removing as requirements evolve over time, making it long term in its quality, but not in its function. as we have seen in the current situation, we need to be able to adapt.’

‘both businesses and their employees have finally woken up to the benefits of a flexible, work-from-home culture,’ says established & sons design director sebastian wrong. ‘but many people have been frustrated with the lack of a suitable workspace at home and many office-based businesses are re-evaluating the purpose of the office environment, downsizing and shifting focus to the social and communal aspect of work.’