Nienkämper’s TOKO, designed by Carl Gustav Magnusson, is a modular system of self-supporting structures that can be used to create unique environments in the office. The easy to reconfigure structure provides the visual and acoustic separation essential for work in open spaces.
With the array of options available on the market, Magnusson wanted TOKO to be more than a set of four cubicle-like walls—all too common in today’s workplace. “Most of these systems are reconfigured into square boxes,” he explained. In typical corporate settings, visitors are often greeted in a reception area or ushered into a conference room, serviceable but not necessarily comfortable.
The experience of hospitality when one goes out for a meal served as one inspiration. “It has the spirit of a café or even a food truck,” Magnusson said. “They are inviting places, and I wanted to capture that. It’s a third space that offers a friendly way to start a conversation with someone in a meeting.”
The concept of a place for food came into play as Rebecca Nienkämper, vice president of the company, was thinking up a name. She initially settled on pantry, which seemed ideal, because of the built-in credenza storage with optional refrigeration. But her son said that it looked like a tokonoma, a recessed space in a Japanese-style reception room where paintings, pottery, and other artworks are displayed. Intrigued, she did her own research and found other meanings. Toko is the Indonesian word for shop, and in the Dutch language, it is the informal name for any type of company or organization. For Nienkämper, the evocative moniker was just right. “I liked all of the possibilities of the name. It was short, memorable, and graphically pleasing,” she noted.
Magnusson wanted to make a similar impactful statement without overwhelming people or the setting that they interact in. TOKO is a seemingly organic element rather than a heavy demarcation that detracts from the interior. “It’s neutral, yet distinctive. It doesn’t reflect the surroundings, it settles in. And then as you get closer, you can see all of the detail.”
The curves, which Magnusson said are reminiscent of the lines of a classic Airstream trailer, were achieved with Flexible Wood panels, made pliable with a patented incision process developed by Switzerland-based company Dukta, in partnership with Spinneybeck. The malleable wood with perforations let just enough light in.
Working with the innovative material allowed the designer to create a substantial structure minus bulk. “Flex Wood bends and it is translucent, so you can see through it whether you are inside or outside of TOKO. It looks and feels airy, it’s quite extraordinary,” Magnusson said. Wood species including ash, maple, and white oak are available, and veneer, acoustic, painted, and plastic laminate options can be selected for the straight panels. At NeoCon, TOKO will be shown with an unfinished natural walnut frame with Linar Flexible Wood in MDF. “Over time, it will develop a patina just as a natural leather would,” Nienkämper added.
Felt baffles overhead contribute to the openness and dampen noise. Even though the components offer superior performance, Magnusson noted that he didn’t set out to design an acoustic solution, but it is simply part of the process, and essential for any product to be used in open offices. “It is a given that something has to have acoustical added-value, not only for the people on the inside, but also on the exterior, so it was a natural approach to take.”
Without cumbersome floor-to-ceiling partitions, TOKO does have integrated power and wall mounts for monitors, making it a destination for virtual meetings or conference calls. TOKO provides the flexibility needed in today’s hybrid environments, and it offers a space for connecting with colleagues. It’s a blend of the best aspects of work and social hubs, and Magnusson noted that the finished product improved upon his original concept, certainly no easy feat—and no small praise. “TOKO became a better product than I had envisioned it myself. But of course, that’s the beauty of great product development, and working with Nienkämper as a partner.”
