Teknion in collaboration with Pearson Lloyd presents Aarea, a family of chairs that unites the concept of circularity and the simple reality of human needs. Aarea is familiar and welcoming in aspect, intuitive and ergonomic in use, and made with minimal components and materials, which speaks to the ingenuity and intelligence of the chair’s design.

The first introduction, launching in May, is a conference chair composed of five parts including a tubular steel frame, a 3D textile knit, an upholstered seat cushion, recycled plastic arm pads, and a recycled aluminum star base. Aarea’s mélange mesh back is a bespoke knit that uses retrieved marine plastic to minimize virgin materials and waste. Developed over the course of two years, the flexible 3D knit weaves in elastomeric textiles to give it longevity and ensure it doesn’t lose its shape. As the team modified the knit, adjustments were made to the frame to provide the correct amount of support and comfort. This fine-tuning resulted in a chair back that conforms to the shape of every body, creating seamless support through the inherent tensions in the knit.

“Today’s workforce is invested in collaborative environments and prioritizing comfort over technical aspects,” expresses Julia La, Product Manager, Seating with Teknion. “Aarea has a simple appearance yet offers high ergonomic performance without the bulky and often visual mechanical components. The independent components join to provide users the highest level of comfort, durability, and relaxation possible.”

“When thinking about what solutions we wanted Aarea to answer, we always centered our desired outcomes around the people, the planet, and the user,” explains Luke Pearson, Co-Founder and Director of Pearson Lloyd. “Not only did we want to build a smart but intuitively simple support structure that helps people work better, but we also wanted to develop a flexible yet sustainably-minded product that minimally impacts the environment.”

The chair is purposefully designed and carefully engineered as separate parts that come together to form a single unit. Aarea intelligently breaks down into individual components, recognizing that wear and tear to various parts happen at different rates. This forward-thinking design approach allows the chair to be serviced when needed and supports repairing the product rather than throwing it entirely away; ultimately increasing its lifespan. However, at the end of its lifecycle, all of the components can be recycled, effectively reducing the product’s carbon output.