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ORGATEC 2024: What’s New in Acoustics, Lighting, and Flooring

ORGATEC 2024: What’s New in Acoustics, Lighting, and Flooring
South entrance. Orgatec 2024. Courtesy of the organizers.

ORGATEC 2024 showcased global innovations in adaptive lighting, eco-friendly flooring, and modular acoustic solutions.

October 22-25—This year’s ORGATEC once again proved why it is the leading international platform for forward-thinking office and workspace solutions. ORGATEC 2024 attracted 50,000 trade visitors from 126 countries, eager to explore a reimagined work environment that balances function, design, and well-being. Featuring over 729 exhibitors from 40 countries, the fair introduced a range of innovations with a strong focus on new acoustic solutions, advanced lighting concepts, and the latest office furniture designs that meet the needs of today’s evolving workspaces.

One of the standout additions was the “Work Culture Festival,” which included insights from industry leaders on creating sustainable, productivity-enhancing workspaces. New product highlights showcased adaptive lighting solutions that support wellness in the workplace and acoustics technologies designed to transform noise-heavy office spaces into havens of focus. The event emphasized functional, aesthetic, and sustainable solutions for the modern office, underscoring its role as a cornerstone for industry trends and inspiration.

New Parquet Range and Updates by Parador

At ORGATEC 2024, Parador introduced an extensive lineup of flooring innovations, emphasizing authentic design and technical advancements. In addition to parquet, Parador unveiled updates across their vinyl, Modular ONE, and laminate collections. The vinyl selection now includes 54 new decors, synchronous textures, and a modern herringbone format tailored for commercial settings. The Modular ONE range draws inspiration from Greek mythology, with 33 new decors featuring eco-friendly designs and advanced water resistance, ideal for high-traffic areas. The laminate collection introduces 18 fresh wood-inspired decors, including a chevron format that adds visual interest and a subtle play of colors, aligning with current design trends.

Parador’s new “Originals” flooring collection combines vibrant colors, global influences, and exceptional craftsmanship, offering five distinct color schemes—Cream, Latte, Biscotti, Hazelnut, and Chocolate—that cater to contemporary, sophisticated interior design in the contract sector.

The new Louvre collection combines traditional French parquet artistry with modern design, offering sustainable oak floors in various classic geometric patterns—including Versailles, Chambord, and Cheverny—that bring royal elegance to commercial interiors.

Direct and Diffused Illumination

Muuto showcased the Two-Layer Pendant, designed by Copenhagen-based Thomas Bentzen, at the Orgatec event. This pendant lamp, launched in September 2024, redefines pendant lighting by integrating both direct and diffused illumination. Inspired by a simple piece of glass, Bentzen crafted a dual-layer structure from mouth-blown glass, which allows the lamp to provide focused light for tasks and a softer ambient glow that fills the space.

The lamp’s construction includes a perforated steel mesh housing for the LED light source, enhancing both the visual texture and diffusion. The Two-Layer Pendant is available with dust caps in Grey or Black, combining Scandinavian simplicity with versatility. This design is a testament to Muuto’s commitment to quality and modern material application, making it suitable for various home or office settings.

The Two-Layer Pendant will be available globally from September 2024 and in North America starting January 2025, priced at €495 or equivalent.

Adjust Light Without Dimming

Muuto didn’t showcase the Set Lamp, first released in April 2024, at the event but we wanted to rewind. The Set Lamp by Toronto-based designer Jamie Wolfond features a machined aluminum body and an adjustable threaded shade that allows users to direct light precisely. Wolfond drew inspiration from the familiar mechanics of industrial screw threads. He created an intuitive way to adjust lighting without dimming—users simply rotate the lamp to change the illuminated area. This feature adds a tactile element to lighting control, encouraging users to shape their zones without disrupting the ambiance of a larger room.

The Set Table Lamp features an upward-facing LED light that bounces off an aluminium shade, emitting a bright yet indirect glow. Control the light intensity or angle by using the inline dimmer or rotating the lamp shade; adjusting the distance between the reflector and the light source dims the light and changes the radius of the light cast.

Acoustic Creations: Assembling Without Tools

At ORGATEC 2024, EchoJazz captivated attendees with “PLANET ECHOJAZZ,” an immersive exhibit showcasing the possibilities of their signature material, EchoBoard®. According to Daniel Rohrer, Marketing Lead at EchoJazz, the goal was to demonstrate “ACOUSTIC INSPIRATION,” using EchoBoard® to inspire diverse acoustic creations. Central to their presentation was EchoBaffle® — an innovative ceiling solution that combines bold design with optimized acoustics. 

Unlike conventional ceilings, EchoBaffles® are vertically suspended for both aesthetic impact and effective sound management. These modular baffles, easily assembled without tools, integrate seamlessly with open ceiling structures, providing easy access for maintenance while enhancing climate control.

EchoJazz also introduced the versatile EchoCove® STAND, a freestanding, frameless partition ideal for separating workspaces or creating distinct zones within an office. Designed for flexibility, it is offered in four heights and two widths and includes three unique, powder-coated steel base designs, all tool-free for easy assembly. 

Beyond function, EchoCove® STAND incorporates sustainable EchoBoard®, made from recycled PET and cradle-to-cradle certified, allowing configurations in color, size, and finish to suit any space.

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