Tecno - Nomos Desking System

Office furniture, like the office itself, must adapt to changing patterns of work. The Nomos concept is rooted in an earlier foray into furniture design; in 1981, when the practice expanded into a new studio, no existing system could provide tables that were adjustable for meetings, drafting or display. The outcome was a custom-designed table, made in a small production run by a sympathetic workshop. In 1999 Tecno commissioned a new table to mark the millennium. The rectangular and circular-topped tables are long-established favourites, but in the quest for another classic shape, smooth curves were investigated to encourage better eye contact across the table’s length. Following this more informal approach, the primary frame is expressed in a vivid palette – red, yellow or blue – with other elements in bright chrome, while a more classical option has a chrome frame with secondary elements in black. The brightly coloured base a reference to the almost festive yellow skeleton of the practice’s 1982 Renault Centre in Swindon. The Italian furniture manufacturer Tecno subsequently commissioned the practice to develop the design, requiring a system that could optimise floor space, accommodate cabling, and be easily reconfigured. Launched in 1987, the Nomos range has been in production ever since.

The concept of Nomos (a Greek word meaning fair distribution) is based on the relationship between the users and the space they occupy. At the heart of the design is a flexible kit of precision-engineered components that can be combined to create miniature working environments for individuals or groups. The starting point is the spine, to which are added legs, feet, supports, work surfaces and superstructures, while a vertebra-like conduit carries cabling. Characterised by its splayed feet - an undercarriage more evocative of motion than the legs of a traditional table, some critics have suggested references to the lunar landing module, or to the grasshopper with its slim body and gangly legs. Utilising this highly stable frame, the system can accommodate shelves, storage, screens, lighting and signage an assembly governed by the ergonomics of the human body, seated or standing.

In 1999 Tecno commissioned a new table to mark the millennium. The rectangular and circular-topped versions are established favourites, but in the quest for another classic shape, smooth curves were investigated to encourage better eye contact across the tables length, making it feel more friendly. Heightening this more informal approach, the primary frame is also expressed in a vivid palette - red, yellow or blue - with other elements in bright chrome, while a more classical option has a chrome frame with the secondary elements in black.

Client: Tecno Spa
Consultants: Dieter Jaeger / Quickborner Team