Developed and designed by Vitra in Switzerland, 2021
Comma, the modular office system by Swiss furniture manufacturer Vitra, guides companies and their employees on their path into the future: it can be flexibly adapted to changing needs and is designed to have a long life cycle. Thanks to easily separable materials and components, Comma also complies with the guiding principle of a circular economy.
What had already been seen as a growing requirement in the office has gained further relevance as a result of the Covid pandemic: work environments must be easily adaptable to changing situations. This means more than just the addition or removal of workstations. Instead, it signifies the ability to modify whole environments and their functions. The simplest solution is an open space that can be structured to suit changing needs.
Vitra’s answer was to develop the Comma office system – as an expression of the dynamic spirit of a new generation of entrepreneurs who cannot relate to the traditional office layout and seek to challenge the codes and rules of the twentieth century.
Comma mirrors the functionality – and aesthetic – of scaffolding. Consisting of a few individual elements available in a kit of parts, Comma can be easily configured into diverse structures that define the space and the work processes to be conducted. The system’s frame elements are assembled using the so-called claw. The same set of parts can be reconfigured time and again thanks to the claw, with countless possibilities. The addition of table tops, electrification modules and other add-ons or accessories is quick and easy.
Comma’s modular basic structure is made of tubular steel with only six individual elements, which can be assembled into endless configurations – workstations, shelf units, phone booths, team benches, workshop spaces, etc. In the spirit of the circular economy, all materials are recyclable and can be reinjected into the production cycle. Screens made of upcycled disposable plastic serve as the sound absorbing back walls of shelf units, or as privacy screens and partition panels.
As Comma is reduced to only essential durable components and functions, users can apply their full creativity time after time and redesign the office environment best suited to their current requirements, without the need for additional tools. The system components are available in a light or dark colour scheme, and span widths from 40 cm to 2 m allow for extremely versatile constructions. Comma is therefore an ideal solution for the most varied spaces.
