New Zealand-based furniture design company, Formway, have been designing award-winning furniture since 1956. Formway embodies a philosophy of team-based, thoroughly researched design that has an emphasis on the aesthetic whilst always keeping the user experience at the core of the design process.

The design studio’s fascination with the ever-changing nature of human behaviour and movement, and a discerning interest in the future of workspaces and human habits within them, has produced cutting-edge pieces. The user experience is not limited to one single task or posture but encompasses a constant range of movement; an understanding that is integrated into Formway’s unique designs.

A perfect example of this is the Be range, in particular the BeSide Hybrid Chair. This task chair has been designed with acute awareness of human movement in mind and is a successful fusion of comfort and mobility.

Manufactured in a durable plastic, the shell seat is gently contoured, with a full, curved back that allows for movement whilst supporting the lower back. Unlike typical shell seats, the perforated back on the BeSide provides airflow, whilst passive flexing promotes natural movement without the need for a mechanism. The seat is topped with a material pad for comfort. 

The chair also features a steel hybrid base - a melding of cantilever and four-leg constructions, giving the option of mobility and freeing up the front corners to allow for different postures. In addition to the unique base structure, the open design of the chair caters to multiple postures, sizes and shapes, making it a popular choice for collaborative workplaces. And despite its simple appearance to the naked eye, this chair is designed for performance.

We have the BeSide Task Chair available in a white shell with red cushioning and on castors (wheels).

The BeSide chair is also manufactured and distributed outside of Australasia by renowned US furniture company Knoll, under the name “MultiGeneration by Knoll.” The two companies have been successfully collaborating since 2002.