UNStudio + USM explore the boundaries between work and domesticity at salone del mobile

at the 2018 salone del mobile, taking place during milan design week, UNStudio has teamed up with swiss furniture brand USM to create ‘HomeWork’ — a theatrical installation that explores shifting boundaries between work and domesticity. ‘work rules our lives today more than ever, and technology allows work to invade our leisure time,’ says the design team. ‘as digital nomads we are increasingly mobile, ready to set up office wherever we are. cafés resemble living rooms, restaurants feel like home kitchens, and co-working spaces have replaced the home office.’

all images courtesy of USM

UNStudio’s futures team was commissioned to explore changes taking place within the world of work, understand how these affect USM, and identify opportunities for the future. as a result, this year’s USM stand at salone del mobile brings furniture design to an architectural scale, creating the biggest piece of USM modular furniture ever built. in total, 1,015 panels, 5,008 balls, 13,318 tubes and 8.9 tons of material have been used.

the design using the USM modular system as a platform to support a range of domestic and office environments hidden within four floating chambers: the dining room, the bedroom, the bathroom and the home office. ‘over the past few years, it has become conventional wisdom that automation, along with advances in artificial intelligence, have put us on the path to a jobless future,’ UNStudio continues. ‘but all may not be doom and gloom. with the eradication of ‘bad jobs’ we can focus on finding meaning in our working lives. how can we learn more at work? how can we play?’

installation video courtesy of UNStudio

project info:

name: USM fair stand, salone del mobile
team —
UNStudio: ben van berkel with ren yee, machteld kors and lieneke van hoek, alice haugh, hagop terzian
advisors —
USM: client and stand constructed from elements of USM modular furniture
expo mobilia: stand construction
judith rasenberg: stage design