Florabella Lounge Chair. Designed by Martin Linder for Herman Miller.

It would be safe to assume the majority of us would conscientiously avoid spending time in hospital waiting rooms. When designer Martin Linder was engaged to design a new line of healthcare furniture however, he spent six months in waiting rooms gathering information to discover exactly how he could improve what is rarely an inviting space for its users.
Linder sat and talked with people and observed their emotional states. He made notes of well-worn, uncomfortable seating with a tendency to entrap materials like food, hair and liquids. He observed
the constant tra ic, frequent cleaning and particular habits that caused the furniture to deteriorate more quickly.
Linder’s unique insights from this intensive research helped him to set forth three priorities for the design of the Florabella Lounge Chair:

1. Limiting dirt and pathogen build up;


2. Maximising durability in key areas; and


3. Creating a chair that is comfortable for long periods of sitting, and provides emotional comfort for those in crisis.

The Florabella Lounge Seating Collection, manufactured by Brandrud (a Herman Miller company) tackles each of these issues.
To combat the growth of pathogens in difficult to clean areas, Linder introduced an innovative floating seat. Florabella’s contoured seat and back are separated by a continuous, wipeable gap that allows residual dirt to fall to the floor, where it can be easily and thoroughly cleaned.
Infection control is also supported by reusable contact points on the arm rest and legs, which are durable enough to withstand constant cleaning. Elbow pads, reminiscent of patches on the sleeves of a suit, are a considered response to a habit Linder observed in waiting room users, who would pick and pull at the fabric in this place.
Florabella’s barrelback design ‘hugs’ the user and allows patients to either sit upright or slouch deep into the chair. Emotional comfort is built in too — the shape creates a feeling of privacy that is often lost in waiting rooms.
The chair’s frame is crafted from steel, suspending the seat and providing sturdy support. The urethane seat pad is highly durable and cleanable, yet also soft to the touch. Replaceable components ensure lasting performance in demanding healthcare environments, while multiple fabric options and coordinated tables enable harmonious design.
The Florabella range is GREENGUARD Gold certified, and comes backed by a 12-year warranty.
Stylish, comfortable and easy to clean, the Florabella Lounge Seating Collection sets new standards for seating in demanding healthcare environments. Martin Linder’s work was recognised by Contract Magazine and the Center for Healthcare Design (US) with a prestigious Nightingale Award—considered the Oscar of Healthcare design.
“I love design projects that are grounded in performance, rather than aesthetics,” says Linder. “Where there’s research and a search for problems to solve and innovation to occur.”