Every two years, Cologne, Germany, hosts Orgatec, one of the world’s most significant international fairs focused on modern offices and work environments. This year, Orgatec 2024 took place from October 22 to 25, with 729 companies from 40 countries presenting their innovations.

Spotlight on Turkish Companies

Representing Turkey, 30 prominent firms showcased their latest designs and concepts. Highlights included Deberenn with its trendy colors and eye-catching coffee table and pouf designs, Nurus with its acoustic meeting pods, and notable chair manufacturers such as Decosit, Flekssit, Bürotime, and Siesta. These brands drew significant attention at the event.

Work Culture Festival: A Vision for the Future

One of the standout events of Orgatec 2024 was the Work Culture Festival, organized in collaboration with Orgatec’s concept sponsor, the German Interior Business Association (IBA). The festival brought together over 100 experts from diverse disciplines through talks, panels, and workshops, providing visitors with Hollvaluable insights into the future of workspaces.

Under the theme “Wherever Whenever,” the festival delved into concepts like Team, Impact, and Life:

• The team explored the dynamics of building cohesive communities to achieve common goals in the workplace.
• Impact encouraged discussions on enhancing social interaction while minimizing environmental harm.
• Life focused on improving health and well-being within work environments.

The festival emphasized the need for designers and users of workspaces to adopt more responsible and sustainable practices for a better future.

The Hybrid Workspace Evolution 

The pandemic has profoundly transformed the concept of the workplace, pushing businesses to reconsider traditional office setups. This shift was evident at Orgatec 2024, where many exhibitors embraced the Hybrid Interior Designformat, blending home and office furniture to accommodate evolving workstyles, including hybrid and home-office systems.

Focus Areas: Innovations in Design and Sustainability

This year’s Orgatec introduced a revamped floor plan, featuring Focus Areas that highlighted:

• Circular Biomaterials: Showcasing products made from natural or recycled materials.
• Blind Date Project: A creative initiative by Danish Design Makers, where designers and manufacturers collaborated anonymously under the theme “Reduction,” focusing on environmentally conscious materials and production methods.

The Circular House: Developed with CADEMI, this area provided a comprehensive perspective on the circular economy through various activities and exhibits

Standout Exhibitors 

Several brands left a lasting impression, including:

• Vox Pods by Huisjline: This Dutch brand captivated visitors with its innovative and visually appealing pod designs.
• Sedus: Known for its expansive displays featuring material boards and innovative furniture concepts.
• Pedrali: The Italian brand captivated attendees with its colorful and unique chair designs.
• Norr11: This Danish brand impressed with its distinctive aesthetic.
• Molo: A Canadian brand, renowned for its creative paper designs, some of which are exhibited at MoMA.
• Gumpo: Showcased a range of stylish chairs and poufs.

Impressive Attendance and Future Plans 

Spread across approximately 140,000 square meters at Koelnmesse, Orgatec 2024 welcomed 50,000 visitors from 126 countries.

Looking ahead, Orgatec’s Asian edition will take place in Tokyo from June 3-6, 2025, while the next Cologne event is scheduled for October 27-30, 2026.

For more information about Orgatec 2024, visit:

• Orgatec Official Website
• Work Culture Festival Details
• Focus Areas at Orgatec
• Danish Design Makers

Prepared by Melika Özer