Seattle, Washington, USA

“Tents inherently make you feel comfortable and safe when you’re inside of them,” states Chris Pottinger. 

“The idea of bringing tents to the workplace is so innovative and something I had to be a part of.”

Chris Pottinger’s new concept for work tents, developed for Steelcase, is rooted in the human desire to seek shelter and protection from natural elements—one of the earliest, and most trustworthy forms of shelter and privacy. 

Tents are an inexpensive solution, light in scale, using less material—something that could be easily moved and highly flexible.

Pottinger, an industrial designer who spent his career designing outdoor equipment for companies like Big Agnes, North Face, and REI, has fashioned a portfolio of designs ranging from sleeping bags to backpacks, clothing, and canteens.

Recreational tents provide safety and a haven of security in uncertain outdoor conditions, and now Work Tents provide people in the office with the same shelter and protection they crave.

With tensile construction at the core of the design, Work Tents pair light and airy organic shapes with tent-like and sheer textiles to create a range of flexible and captivating privacy solutions. 

The Work Tents challenge conventional privacy solutions by offering a novel and compelling way for people to work.

The tents are made of a lightweight fabric called Ascent. 

This fabric provides a high level of visual privacy while remaining extremely light.

To complement the adventurous spirit of Ascent, Sheer came into being to bring a cocooning touch to the Work Tent experience. 

This translucent fabric provides just the right level of visual privacy and comfort while letting light come in.

Potttinger’s new collection for Steelcase currently includes two structures, available now in EMEA.

The Pod Tent, the most reminiscent of an outdoor tent, is a freestanding pod that provides a distraction-free space for an individual desk or lounge setting.

Inspired by Norman Foster’s iconic “Gherkin” building in London, the diagonal shape and simplified membrane made of aluminum tent poles create a wide mouth, open-air roof and exposed exoskeleton.

Pod Tent is the perfect retreat from common office distractions, providing a comfortable, private working environment for focus or rejuvenation. 

Its unique and organic shape adds a compelling and unconventional visual aesthetic to the modern workplace.

There are many benefits of adding a Pod Tent to the workplace: Pod Tent is roomy enough to support individual desking or lounge settings; the lightweight Pod Tent is easy to move and supports a resilient workplace; a standard open-air roof and door provides ventilation inside the tent; and is budget friendly and a fraction of the cost of traditional stand-alone pods and enclaves.

The second, the Overhead Tent, also inspired by architecture, is an easy-to-move, freestanding piece perfect for privacy in an open plan.

This design provides a soft and light layer of privacy perfect for lounges or small collaborative settings, helping people feel comfortable and shielded. 

The flexible aluminum frame and spine are lightweight and easy to move, supporting the resilient workplace needed for today’s hybrid work world.

The Overhead Tent provides a dynamic and airy layer of privacy to social and collaborative spaces in the open plan. 

Its soft and light form adds visual interest to any space while providing comfort and shielding allowing people to feel a sense of privacy while meeting or socializing in the open.

There are many benefits of adding an Overhead Tent to the workplace: The tent is roomy enough to support lounge or small collaboration settings and the open and airy design allows for air to flow inside and around the tent.

In contrast to the heavy, linear expressions found in many workplaces, Work Tents feature light, airy, organic shapes. 

The simple screens and small enclosures challenge the norm, giving people unexpected and playful—yet hard-working—alternatives to help protect them from office distractions.

Project: Steelcase Work Tents Collection 
Designers: C. G. Pottinger & Company LLC.
Lead Designer: Chris Pottinger
Manufacturer: Steelcase Inc.