Adhoc Seating System

The challenge was to design a modular seating system that accommodated contrast and variation without sacrificing coherence or intent. Intended for commercial, institutional, and public interiors, the system needed to support asymmetric arrangements and shifting spatial needs while remaining structurally and visually resolved. A consistent dimensional framework allowed single and double backrests or armrests to share the same footprint, enabling unexpected adjacency without disrupting alignment. The brief also demanded low-VOC materials, efficient local production, and minimal fabrication waste. Adhoc met these demands without compromising adaptability or performance—helping shape better everyday environments through intentional, flexible design.

The design process centred on reconciling variation with visual and spatial clarity. Prototypes tested how offset, mirrored, and back-to-back configurations could be achieved without compromising alignment or rhythm. A shared dimensional structure was established, allowing single and double components to remain interchangeable across modules. This enabled visual contrast without requiring bespoke tooling or custom joinery. CNC-cut plywood frames ensured geometric consistency and reduced offcut waste. Attention was given to upholstery transitions at intersecting seams, maintaining continuity across contrasting elements. The result is a system that enables complexity through control—defining and celebrating better modular seating for contemporary spaces.

Adhoc supports long-term design impact through spatial adaptability, sustainable manufacture, and market readiness. Its modular system enables reconfiguration, partial repair, and diverse layouts tailored to high-use public and commercial interiors. CNC-cut plywood and low-VOC materials reduce fabrication waste and support cleaner indoor environments, with production anchored in local supply chains. Designed for varied use patterns and evolving needs, the system accommodates difference without compromising alignment or build integrity. Adhoc is confirmed for national release, with Southeast Asian distribution in development. It defines and celebrates better shared spaces—where modularity enables comfort, interaction, and autonomy to coexist.

Adhoc is a modular seating system built on a consistent dimensional structure that allows variation without compromising alignment or clarity. Single and double backrests or armrests share the same footprint, enabling asymmetrical compositions that remain visually coherent. Modules can be configured in-line, back-to-back, offset, or clustered to suit a wide range of spatial contexts and how people interact with a space. Each component is constructed with CNC-cut plywood to ensure geometric precision and minimise fabrication waste. The internal framing supports repeated assembly without loss of stability or performance, while upholstery transitions are resolved to avoid bulk where modules meet. Arm and back components are detachable, allowing part-specific reupholstery or replacement, reducing freight, downtime, and environmental impact. The system is optimised for public, commercial, and institutional interiors where spatial needs are fluid and often unscripted. Its modularity allows for spatial articulation without relying on symmetry, enabling clients to respond to context rather than impose it. Connection points are discreetly integrated and enable reconfiguration without tools, supporting change over time without prescribing fixed arrangements or requiring excess components. Its defining quality lies in its structural capacity to support variation, enabling better ways of configuring space through modular logic and design clarity.