Tender loving chairs
In our risk-averse society, it seems danger lurks everywhere. Even our office environment comes under scrutiny. You know the drill: is your work chair the right size for your body type? Does it offer lumbar support? Allow your feet to rest comfortably on the floor? Tilt or swivel easily while performing tasks at your desk? If you didn't answer yes to all of the above, you could be on the path to poor posture, which can lead to tension, back pain and joint problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome. But where's the inspiration if our work space looks too clinical?
Some new designs are more out there than others. A Gaiam Balance Ball chair, anyone? (online price US$99). Combining office work with a workout, its aim is to balance the body and engage the core, promoting good posture. Besides, 'it's just plain fun bouncing in the chair occasionally,' says one devotee, who claims to have been relieved of back pain (blogger WebChicklet).
Some make extravagant claims. The Think chair by Steelcase (HK$4,000) is described as 'the chair with a brain and a conscience'. If you believe the marketing spiel, it's 'intelligent enough to understand how you sit and adjust itself intuitively', and 'thoughtful enough to measure and minimise its lifelong impact on the environment'. Right.
Steelcase also makes the ergonomically sound and environmentally friendly Leap chair (HK$6,000), the Amia (HK$4,600) and the Node, a modern take on the classroom chair, budget priced at HK$3,000. All enjoy a strong following.
The ON chair by German company Wilkhahn (from HK$5,000 to HK$15,000, depending on specification and finish detail) is billed as the world's first 3-D chair, mirroring the natural functions and position of the body's hip and knee joints. But that's not the only reason Adam Mundy, director, design international for architecture firm M Moser Associates, chose it.
'The chair suits the differing styles of my work,' he says. 'I can lock it in position for correct posture when I need to complete computer-based tasks. When I am on the phone the chair reclines and relaxes, while still supporting my back. The flexible movement of the seat and back allows me to move freely in the seated position, giving great support ... and to be honest, it looks pretty cool.'