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Bold shapes, green themes in spotlight at NeoCon fair

Interesting mixes of materials, enhanced function also play a role

Gary James -- Furniture Today, July 1, 2009

CHICAGO — Bold shapes, interesting mixes of materials and eco-friendly construction were among the key themes at this year's NeoCon contract furniture fair.

Style highlights included Karim Rashid's majestic Pyramid seating for Nienkamper and Flexsteel's playful C2348-10 chair. Function was in the spotlight with pieces such as izzydesign's height-adjustable Elliott desking unit and Knu's line of mobile lateral files.

And the importance of being green was very evident at this year's show, with creative introductions such as Humanscale's Diffrient World chair (yes, that's spelled right) and the Alternate chair from Segis aiming to deliver maximum style and comfort with minimal use of materials.

Gunlocke’s new Kenna table collection blends a hardwood base and aluminum accents with a variety of tabletop options, including veneer, glass, marble or granite. Twenty models are available in square and rectangular shapes, at 17-inch and 21-inch heights. A ClearTech finish protects the top surfaces.	The Alternate chair, from Segis, is designed to minimize material waste while still making an interesting sculptural statement. A variety of three-dimensional personalities is apparent, depending on from what angle the chair is viewed.
Pyramid, Karim Rashid’s new lounge chair for Nienkamper, borrows a monumental form from ancient Egypt and stands it on its head. The stylish chair is made with environmentally responsible materials, including Forest Stewardship Council-certified laminated wood products and soy-based foam.	Leda Contract’s new designs included Heritage, an executive office collection in finely crafted, hand-selected cherry veneers and hardwoods. Inspired by Mediterranean Old World culture, the collection is moderately scaled to fit in a variety of spaces.
Itoki Designs’ SP task chair was one of five products to receive this year’s Best of NeoCon Innovation award. The 96% recyclable chair uses cutting-edge mechanisms such as “Passive Seat Slide” and “Active Lumbar Support” to eliminate the need for manual adjustment. Another groundbreaking element is the SP’s backrest, composed of thermoplastic urethane, the same material used on the inner wall of some car tires to ensure durable rigidity with rebound.	The Diffrient World chair, designed by Niels Diffrient for Humanscale, is an eco-friendly task chair. Made from just eight major parts and weighing less than 25 pounds, it provides weight-sensitive recline through an innovative design that functions without a mechanism. The model has just 80 parts overall, less than one-third the number of traditional task chairs.
Knu expands its office offerings with mobile lateral files and drawer peds that complement its existing desks. Available in various sizes, the pieces are made of Baltic birch.	Elliott, by izzydesign, is a height-adjustable table with a full range of sit-to-stand options. Designed by Joey Ruiter, the table features an L-shaped laminate top on solid cast aluminum with soft urethane edging.
International Contract Furnishings’ introductions included the Diez stool, a quirky design from Stefan Diez. The seat is shaped like a comfortable saddle and the base ring features a slip-resistant, non-abrasive border. Made from molded plywood, the stool is available in natural beech or stained in various colors.	Dickens, from the Victoria Hagan Home collection, is an 84- by 38- by 35-inch sofa with maple feet, turned legs, contrast welting and pewter or bronze nailhead accents.
Designed by Zooey Chu, Global's Graphic chair features a Euro-style, slim-profile back with a high-tech, multiple position sliding armcap. The exterior back design is available in three versions: a durable, detailed nylon shell; fabric upholstered shell; and leather upholstered shell. Multiple base and finish options are available.	Flexsteel Hospitality makes a mod fashion statement with its C2348-10 chair. The elongated, flared back with single accent button creates a dynamic silhouette for the wide, round seat. Tapered block legs add to the effect.
Duralee’s introductions included a two-book trimming set — Tassels, Tapes & Trimmings and Borders, Buttons & Braids. Tassels, Tapes & Trimmings features eight trim styles, including braided cord, beaded fringe, textured tape, geometric braided fringe, tassel fringe, double brush fringe and chair ties (shown here).	The You chair, new from Allseating, is an innovative, ergonomic mesh chair. With a patented back suspension design, You flexes and bows to create a convex curve that provides full-contact support for the entire back, according to the company. Other features include a polished U-shape frame.

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