Tools for Life was Koolhaas’ first furniture project. The first contact with the Knoll brand, with the assistance of which this collection was developed, took place 15 years ago, but only recently a superficial acquaintance has moved into the rank of full-fledged cooperation.
The concept of the series is based on the idea that the furnishing should be perceived as a high-performance tool, and not a detached embodiment of the idea. OMA designs furniture that adapts easily to the work needs of a person and the needs of his social activities.
One of the items in the collection is table 04, which presents a completely new principle of designing and using furniture. Initially, it looks like a stack of three rectangular slabs.
The top two are fixed movably so that the user can rotate them around their axis, creating different configurations. The product is able to take the form of a compact partition with a shelf at the top, a desk and a multi-tiered bench, going through several stages of transformation – from a spatial element to the place of the center of social interaction.
The collection includes tables that can become either coffee or writing, thanks to the presence of an electric motor that drives the height change mechanism.
In addition, swivel chairs, a stool, a bureau table and other items were presented. All products are made of simple materials – clear acrylic, leather, travertine, steel, wood, glass and concrete, making them compatible with a wide range of work and living spaces.
The Tools for Life exposition was designed with the participation of specialists from the furniture company Knoll. The organic sequence of spaces, determined by the structural features of the pavilion, created conditions for an abstract perception of each product, which would have been impossible if the collection had been presented compositionally.
