VANK is a Poland-based company that designs and manufactures office furniture with recycled, recyclable or bio-based materials. Several of their sound-insulating pieces, as well as their office furniture, were used in the coworking office space for Blox Workspace in Lucerne, designed by Blox AG themselves.
Blox is a company based in Rothenburg, Switzerland that offers consulting services to architects, interior designers, and investors for office furnishings.
Blox Workspace is their coworking space that provides modern and fully equipped workspaces, with easy access to public transport and a car park.
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| VANK_RING chairs, pouf and coffee table |
In addition to these amenities, Blox Workspace also offers catering services with lunch menus and an in-house fitness center. Their spaces are equipped with single and customized, multi-person VANK acoustic booths, acoustic solutions made of biomaterials, mobile office walls, soft seating, desks, and swivel chairs, and a modular furniture system made of eco-friendly materials such as hemp and flax.
The open 2-person acoustic pod VANK_WAVE are acoustic pods that support focused work. Available in versions for 2 and for 4 people, their features aim to improve user comfort: LED lighting with a switch, and a connection panel. Connection panels are fitted in the floor or the seat.
The workspace combined three types of the ELLIPSE BIO box, which is an acoustic mobile pod, within which outside noise can be blocked thanks to the sound-absorbing materials of its walls. It is made with ELLIPSE panels that break up sound waves. The following modules were used in the project:
The pods come in many combinations: with one or two glass walls, with the body featuring the ellipse pattern on two sides side or one side only (the other is upholstered in plain fabric).
All VANK acoustic pods can be moved freely at any time — and disassembled and assembled back if necessary. This is possible thanks to the castors fixed to the base and the heavy-duty design — suitable for repeated assembly.
All glass elements are made of double-glazed, laminated, and tempered glass. The acoustic panels and fabrics have been tested for flame retardancy according to EN 1021-1, EN 1021-2 (cigarette and match).
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| VANK_JUNGLE pods with plant modules and DIAMOND insulation panels |
The VANK_JUNGLE option has its outer left wall is finished with a system of modules for growing air-purifying potted plants. A green wall in the office reduces employee stress and brings emotional balance and well-being to the workplace.
The VANK_CUBE is a furniture family, where each piece is made of one or multiple cubes of a standard 36 cm size, that can adapt and attach to each other. The cubes are made of flax and hemp and can be reconfigured to adapt to changing space or use requirements.
The VANK_RING is a lounge chair for office environments. It is defined by its circular shape and the creasing of its fabric. A five-pointed cross base with castors and height adjustment supports the seat. Its cushioning is partially filled with foam waste and it is suitable for recycling, and it can be separated from its frame with Velcro straps.
The covers of the seat and the backrest can be removed for cleaning or reupholstering.
The lounge chairs and the coffee tables in the VANK_RING family were used in the Blox offices:
| Round upholstered armchair with seat height adjustment, on a flat 5-star aluminium base on castors. | Seat height: 42-50 cm Total height: 72-80 cm Seat depth: 46 cm Total depth: 68 cm Seat width: 50 cm Total width: 68 cm |
| Round upholstered armchair on a steel frame. | Seat height: 43 cm Total height: 77 cm Seat depth: 56 cm Total depth: 68 cm Seat width: 60 cm Total width: 76 cm |
| Round upholstered armchair with high backrest on a steel frame. | Seat height: 43 cm Total height: 112 cm Seat depth: 56 cm Total depth: 68 cm Seat width: 60 cm Total width: 76 cm |
| A round upholstered visitor chair on a steel frame. | Seat height: 51 cm Total height: 81 cm Seat depth: 46 cm Total depth: 52 cm Seat width: 50 cm Total width: 66 cm |
The VANK_CELOO poufs are designed to sit and work in semi-reclined positions.They have been designed for coworking buildings, office chillout areas, large open-plan environments, lobbies, and waiting areas in public spaces.
VANK_MOVE is a contemporary desk with a functional design, simple form, and minimalist finish. It can act as an element of an individual workstation in open-space environments, in a closed office room, or in a home office setting. The user can select between a fixed (FIX) and a variable table top height. Thanks to the electric height adjustment mechanism, the table ‘keeps up’ with the user’s actions. It acts in unison with the user, adapting fully to their needs.
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| Office room with VANK_TOOR cabinets, DIAMOND mobile panels and V6 chairs |
The VANK_V6 office chair offers mechanics to address different needs. Its five-pointed aluminum base is a sturdy, durable structure. The V6 makes a great addition to home environments. It can be used from morning to evening — for work, learning, or gaming. It has a wide range of ergonomic features and customization options.
The VANK_TOOR are drawer units for office environments that are fit with acoustic screens.
They are available in two formats: tall free-standing or lower units with drawers, and the front panel, with 3D acoustic properties, can be furnished in different materials.
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| VANK_DIAMOND acoustic walls |
The mobile acoustic partition VANK_DIAMOND or VANK_SCREEN acoustic walls are a mobile tool for creative teams. They separate workstations from each other and organize clearly defined zones ready for change. They can also be used as safe partitions in the event of an epidemic threat. The partitions are offered in single or double versions, in a free-standing option on feet or as a mobile solution on castors. They come with acoustic panels made from a biocomposite, non-woven rPET, or additionally upholstered with fabrics to add a touch of color to the interior. Acoustic partitions are also available with a magnetic whiteboard fitted on one side.
VANK_DIAMOND state-of-the-art acoustic panels are designed to be 100% sustainable and they contribute to the development of the circular economy. VANK's proprietary technology makes use of renewable, recycled, and bio-based materials, and produces shapes that provide sound attenuation and make rooms soundproof. The acoustic panels can be customized by designers to become creative wall finishes in office environments, public spaces, and residential buildings. They will cover the entire walls of rooms or become acoustic ‘works of art’ with dimensions of 160x240 cm or 240x160 cm. The geometric, non-linear form of the DIAMOND panel was awarded the International iF Design Award 2016.
View all available VANK products in the Architonic Catalog or go deeper through VANK's website.
| Architects | Blox AG |
| Year | 2023 |
| Manufacturers | VANK |
| Products used in this project | Open 2-person acoustic pod VANK_WAVE, 6-person acoustic pod VANK_ELLIPSE_BIO_rPET, 2/3-person acoustic pod VANK_ELLIPSE_FLAT_BIO with TS equipment, 1-person acoustic pod VANK_ELLIPSE_BIO, VANK_JUNGLE acoustic pod, Double desk with mobile pouf VANK_CUBE, Sofas, chairs, poufs, coffee table, and stools VANK_RING, Poufs VANK_CELOO, Desks VANK_MOVE, Swivel chairs V6, TOOR office cabinets, Mobile acoustic partition VANK_DIAMOND, Acoustic wall panels VANK_DIAMOND |
| Location | Lucerne, Switzerland |
