High-end upcycled & recycled office furniture by Fern• and deardesign

Fern and deardesign partnered to create a new way of producing fine office furniture.

Rather than using the widespread linear model of production based on extracting, producing, consuming, and discarding, they turned to a new model focused on optimizing the life cycle of products and base materials.

“Manmade products have social, economic, and environmental impacts. Because of this, I felt compelled to create a business that raises the eco-consciousness of companies and develops solutions to help them achieve sustainability,” declares Cécile Imbert, Founder of Fern.

Ecological mindset and sustainability for a positive impact

This furniture collection arises after a Research & Development process of almost two years, in which the Fern• and deardesign studio team traveled from the rocky landscapes of French Provence to the blue coasts of Catalonia, drawing inspiration from its lands and local crafts to give rise to the juxtaposition of new forms, materials, and textures.

The team explored quarries, landfills, and places with abandoned material, searching for ways to give unwanted materials a second life.

This effort brought forth a new direction for both companies under the seal of sustainability and an ecological state of mind.

In the coming weeks, Fern• and deardesign studio will release this collection as part of the eco-responsible interior design project of the Mansartis offices, located in Place Vendôme in Paris.

Mansartis has committed itself in the circular economy in 2019 through the refurbishment and renovation of the premises.

“We hope in our own way to contribute to the ongoing ecological transition. This project is part of a global approach of innovation from the evolution of work environment to working methods, including the dematerialization and digitalization of external and internal interfaces.

The events of the past few weeks confirm and accelerate the initiated process” emphasizes Guillaume Jalenques de Labeau, CEO of Mansartis.

The objective of the Fern• – deardesign collaboration is to continue promoting a new paradigm of sustainability, giving rise to projects gaining ground on zero impact initiatives.

The objective of zero impact has special significance for both companies, for they have set this goal for themselves, to be met within five years.

To achieve this reality, the team pursues the Research & Development process and addresses each new project as part of the collective journey.

Working together, Fern• and deardesign studio have shown themselves to be dedicated builders of progress.

Are you curious to find out more projects made with recycled materials? Check the Fan Chair Collection by Atelier Tobia Zambotti

A collection by and for people, based on the concept of second life

The first collaboration between deardesign studio and Fern• has created a line of furniture designed for employees’ health and wellness.

With particular attention to textures and details, this collection characterizes the circular design of unwanted materials and demonstrates how each comes together for a new purpose.

The high-end selection of office furniture features recovered and recycled materials, where the meaning of “second life” is especially strong.

This is a collection as human as it is sustainable, in which each piece is made with carefully selected materials.

Quality and unwanted materials lead to circular design

The FD desk, the leading piece of the collection, features traditional craftsmanship, new materials, and integrated connectivity elements suited to modern workspace environments.

It combines two materials that conform to the idea of sustainable design: French oak recovered from old SNCF train floors and Durat®, a product made from recycled plastic.

Two storage units, IL and AU, supplement the FD desk to present an inclusive office collection.

These storage units are made from recycled MDF and reclaimed oak.

The collection also features the CI tables designed for common areas promoting interaction between employees.

Each of these pieces offers solutions for professional spaces while inspiring and allowing companies to take a stand for sustainability and to reduce their environmental impact.

It should be noted that all finishes, varnishes, and lacquers are water-based and in line with widespread eco-friendly philosophies.

The result is a sustainable collection that adheres to the European standards of safety, resistance, and durability in office furniture.

This collection is a fitting embodiment of the well-known message from Patrick Geddes: think globally, act locally.

“Today as designers we have the responsibility to provide eco-responsible solutions to ensure that our designs will have the least impact on the environment. In addition, we will contribute, not only to raise awareness among our clients, but also to everyone involved in the process of its creation” emphasizes Ignasi Llauradó, CEO & Creative Director of deardesign studio.

With this idea, the joint project between Fern• and deardesign positions itself as a new alternative for professionals committed to sustainability.

Both companies believe that they have a responsibility to stretch across environmental, social, and economic spaces.

They are committed to designing spaces & furniture that supports environmental preservation while ensuring that materials used in the manufacturing process have only positive effects on workplace wellness.

Achieving workplace wellness after a global health pandemic

A health pandemic like COVID-19 has the potential to significantly change the workspace environment.

If the current challenge for companies is to organize employees to return to work in safe and sanitary conditions, the future challenge will be to offer workspaces in line with the values and aspirations of their workforce, whilst ensuring their safety.

In terms of employee composition, millennials easily make up half of the global workforce.

Surveys made before the sanitary crisis already showed a correlation between employee satisfaction and the workplace environment.

These surveys also demonstrated how the current generation is characterized by a strong commitment to health, wellbeing, and sustainability.

Enterprises that choose to follow sustainable practices, limit environmental impacts and promote health and wellbeing have an indisputable edge when it comes to attracting talents.

New paradigm of sustainability in line with environmental needs

Reports of devastating data on climate change have convinced Fern • and deardesign studio of the need to act.

Likewise, what many countries saw during the weeks of pandemic confinement leaves no room for doubt about environmental stressors.

For a long time, the planet has been sending warning messages about diminished environmental health and stability.

It is time to take these warnings seriously. It is time to change global actions and behaviors in favor of the environment.

In this sense, the role of designers is crucial to achieving widespread environmental wellness.

This fact is demonstrated by reports from the European Commission’s science and knowledge service.

Here, the reports highlight that more than 80 percent of impacts on the environment are determined during the early stages of project conception.

Joining Fern • and deardesign studio in its approach contributes to improving well-being and health at work while preserving the common good of humanity: the planet.

If you’re curious to know more about sustainable design and architecture, don’t miss the Interview with Kristoffer Tejlgaard