We are extremely happy that this year's VANK idea has been met with so much interest and positive response. The motto of WELLBIOING reflects our way to employee well-being and natural surroundings in interiors, which, as it turns out, is the most needed today. It is also our new story of bioeconomics, photosynthesis and green offices of the future. We hope to continue telling and creating it together.

At its stand in Hall 8, VANK offered a comfortable meeting space and the atmosphere of a green, user-friendly office of the future. There were new configurations of acoustic solutions, options offor customisation, surprising biomaterial forms, and several essential mobile features to guarantee adaptability. VANK’s stand was an expression of the versatility of sustainable interior design, highlighted by the colours featured — white, beige, and jade green, all referring to the used eco-friendly materials. 

Biodesign for you and the planet

Office well-being was presented through the use of natural materials such as VANK_BIO. It is created through modern technology using a biocomposite based on flax and hemp fibres. These plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere during their growth phase and convert it into biomass through photosynthesis. Therefore, biodesign is about products with a much lower carbon footprint than other office furniture. In addition, they are based on fast-growing fibrous plants that are annually renewable, do not require irrigation or fertilisation, and are safe and human-friendly due to their natural origin. VANK_BIO is durable and soundproof. As a typical porous material made of bast fibres, it contains diverse channels and cavities that allow sound waves to penetrate into the structure.

Using renewable resources is an important means to achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions leading to climate change — which is one of the biggest threats to the natural environment, our society, and our economy. VANK’s eco- transformation and contribution to the development of the circular economy was recognised by the juries of the Green Product Award 2022 and Iconic Design Awards 2022. As a result of its efforts, the brand received both awards. The biodegradable VANK_PANEL_BIO made VANK also one of the finalists shortlisted for the Sustainability Award Design 2022. 

In Cologne, VANK showed a stand built of its VANK_BIO acoustic panels that lend a minimalist, natural look to every interior. It’s a combination of pro-environmental values and every individual’s need for well-being. Thanks to the organic texture of the material, the colour scheme, and the geometric rhythm of the panels, the interior becomes full of harmony.

The soft, creased, velour-covered surfaces of the seats and high backrests from the VANK_RING collection improve the acoustics of modern office interiors, which contributes to the well-being of those present. Thanks to the furniture’s recycling-friendly design, the cushions removed from armchairs and poufs, filled with recycled foam, can be used as meditation cushions. High bar furniture - new RING sofas, tables, and barstools — make great spaces for comfortable, casual meetings, so much in demand in modern-day offices.

VANK_BIO acoustic panels have also been presented on multifunctional pods and screens, which reduce the levels of acoustic smog and stimulate concentration and creativity. Supporting neurodiverse people, they form clearly defined zones and relaxation areas. A bigger pod for meetings, video conferencing, and online training comes with VANK_CO mobile barstools and a whiteboard for brainstorming.

The medium-sized VANK_BOX was designed for individual focused work performed at a desk, for recording podcasts and webinars.

The smallest 1-person pod is a solution for quick and confidential phone or video calls. Thanks to castors, all pods can be easily rotated or moved away from sources of visual or acoustic distractions depending on the organisation’s current needs.

VANK_SCREEN_BIO, which is a mobile office screen made of bio-based panels, was additionally showed in ORGATEC’s special exhibition zone — Materials4Future, which featured curated solutions designed to reduce the carbon footprint of office furniture products.

So far, the products made from biomaterial have been wall panels, mobile walls, and acoustic pods. But there’s a new player in town, going by the name of VANK_CUBE_BIO. The solution enables setting up an eco-friendly workplace anywhere, in any space. This modular system is based on a single element - the cube - and makes it possible to easily transform the interior in response to changing needs. A single module looks like a box, but the system can be a bench, a desk with a pouf, a counter, a shelf, a shelving unit, or a wall dividing the space. With such building blocks, it’s possible to freely shape and form the space as well as configure and reconfigure the available furniture in an infinite number of ways. The collection supports creative teams and collective work culture, but also lets individualists working remotely and independently to have some fun. 

What makes VANK unique as a manufacturer and brand in the office market, in addition to the extensive use of eco-friendly materials, is the ability to offer complete mobile rooms finished with 3D panels both on the inside and outside. This translates into an even greater level of acoustic comfort in open-plan office environments.

Well-being and health in the workplace

VANK supports ideas designed to respond not only to the need for ergonomics and aesthetics and to climate change, but also to the concern for people’s physical and mental health. That’s why the outcome of this year’s collaboration with architecture and design studio and virtual reality technology provider Magic Horizons is the new acoustic pod re:mind BOX. Visitors to ORGATEC could try out a mobile room for brief relaxation both at the VANK stand and in a special zone arranged to mimic the perfect workspace — Inspired Hybrid Office.