Architecture & Design - Nothing says ‘don’t talk to me’ like a soundproof helmet, a cocoon-shaped desk or a chair that basically swallows you when you want to disappear.
Designed for introverts and people who just want some dang peace and quiet in a noisy open-plan office, these furniture designs and wearables offer hiding places for the busiest and least private of environments, like airplanes, coffee shops, hostels and even city sidewalks.
Tunnel Chair & Bed by Noga Berman
Can you find privacy within existing furniture? Designer Noga Berman has come up with a way to incorporate ‘hiding places’ into relatively ordinary-looking functional furniture pieces, including a chair and a sofa. Wrapping elastic bands around the frames creates ‘tunnels’ within the furniture that you can hide part or all of your body inside.
Brody Desk by Steelcase
This desk by workplace furniture manufacturer Steelcase feels enclosed yet open at the same time, with a design that offers some privacy and minimizes distractions without cutting you off from the entire office. It might look like tight quarters in there – and it is – but the design is intended as a sort of break from your regular desk, for periods of time when intense focus is required.
Privacy Pop Bed Tent
Worried about privacy while traveling, or stuck in a dorm room with several roommates? The ‘Privacy Pop’ bed tent may not offer much in the looks department, but it’s highly practical, offering a room-with-a-room that sets up in minutes and blocks out light.
Desk Chair Hoodies by Bernotat & Co
‘Chair Wear’ is a series of textile chair add-ons by Bernotat & Co that bring a little extra functionality, like pockets, without requiring an additional piece of furniture. The ‘Hoodini’ has an oversized hood that you can put over your head while reading or talking on the phone.
Duplex Workspace Desk
For anyone who lives in a crowded space and needs a little more privacy while working, the Duplex Workspace by Sophie Kirckpatrick extends up over the desk surface to create a private cocoon. It’s made of strips of ash veneer, with solid ash legs.
Noise-Canceling Introvert Helmet
A less permanent solution can be found in the ‘Tomoko’ by Finland-based design firm Mottowasabi. It looks like an oversized lamp, and you can move it out of the way when you don’t need it. The felt ‘helmet’ cuts noise and distractions
Alcove Highback Business Seating
The Alcove series by Vitra is a room-in-a-room concept, offering several sizes of seating and backing heights that can be used alone or in groups. There’s a chair with a built-in desk and cushioned armrest, loveseats, larger sofas and nooks that wrap around a table, each designed for an open plan workplace (but seemingly appropriate for use at home, too.)
