Wall partitions are often seen as merely functional, temporary pieces of architecture in office spaces that divide a room. Back in the day, I recall noticing the accordian-style, wood veneer wall that divided my Sunday school classroom into two, and it definitely did not surpass the “functional” expectation. But at Milan this year, a Pritzker Prize winning architect designed the perfect solution to those hideous wall partitions.

The Nouvel Hook wall system. Designed by Jean Nouvel.

Jean Nouvel

has created the office wall system he calls Hook for Methis, an Italian brand of office tables, chairs, and wall partitions that push the boundaries of textures and spatial relations for multi-functional work environments. Hook is a sound-absorbing wall system made up of metal strips with hidden joints that can hold shelves and containers using the gaps between the strips. So not only is it extremely efficient, but it is actually built using an environmentally sustainable building system of recycled and recyclable materials.

“Metal architecture, like a quotation from Jean Prouv©'s creations. Rather than a partition, more like a true, uninterrupted building system where the joints are concealed behind the metal folds. Just like paper, its regularly perforated, lacquered and corrugated skin becomes a wall", says Nouvel about Hook, shown this year at Milan’s Salone del Mobile, Methis was located on the Superstudio Più in Zona Tortona.