Build Architecture Awards

Build Architecture Awards 2015 10 Aalborg, the British furniture manufacturers, effort- lessly combine a clean, stylish and modern Danish aesthetic with ergonomic function and a longevity that harks back to its UK roots. The Aalborg brand offers a wide range of products for a number of different uses in myriad locations, including auditoria, healthcare facilities and offices. The primary function of every piece they create is always focused on the wellbeing of the user, and the firm puts particular emphasis on the long term postural benefits. The company’s unique approach and high standards have gained us international appreciation and worldwide interest, which has attracted a number of partners whose enthusiasms have already stimulated a flow of substantial orders for this fast growing range. Aalborg’s purpose as a business is centred on providing an understanding of issues related to education and the workplace, developing solutions for a fast moving world. As a compa- ny they specialise in both market and design issues, defining their business is ‘generalist’ rather than ‘specific’. This is because, through their vast experi- ence in the industry, Aalborg have found that too many ‘specialists’ fail to engage with a developing marketplace. They aren’t able to communicate with other related ‘specialists’, let alone the general public, leading to them being alienating from their customers and mired in nonsensical industry jargon. The underlying issues relating to the concept of ‘posture’ are an important example of this phenomenon, with ergonomics and anthro- pometrics being key issues which need to be scrutinised in relation to design and architec- ture to ensure good posture and a proper care of spinal health, digestion and even – very importantly – maximising oxygen to the brain. All of these factors can improve the quality of life for the firm’s customers, as well as improv- ing their ability to both concentrate and per- form. Too many designers of office and especially of school furniture appear to disregard such to the lasting detriment of both our own and of future generations, whereas at Aalborg the highly skilled design and concept team understand the health implications of the furniture which they all use on a daily basis, and strive to constantly ensure that all of our products, using their vast experience in the industry to ensure all of their products provide the ultimate in comfort and utility. The firm has a strong background in design and innovation. Aalborg DK Ltd was created by Anthony and Jayne Hill, following on from their success with their previous firm, Anthony Hill Designs Ltd, founded in 1966, which traded as Stage Systems until 2007 when Stage Systems was sold to a UK PLC. Under their guidance Stage Systems had established itself as the leading brand of demountable staging systems in the UK. As an Industrial Designer, Anthony Hill enjoyed a varied background before establishing his original design company, as he worked on developing the range of products for Stage Systems in the early years, between 1976 and 2006. This range was developed to especially serve the needs of dance, music, drama and display, incorporating a number of features designed to ensure ease of handling by the young and old alike, which led to the use of the products in a multitude of settings including education, of churches and cathedrals, town and vil- lage halls, in the UK and internationally. In fact, the range is so successful that a third of all UK schools and over half of the cathedrals in the UK use Stage Systems products for choral, concert and worship purposes. Danish Style meets British Functionality