You’ve got to love the simplicity of Brunner‘s company philosophy: “We make furniture. Furniture for people. Furniture that makes sense.” With such an unimpeachable declaration it would be difficult to loose sight of the objective of this Rheinau, Germany-based firm that wants you to be comfortable anywhere you sit—“conference rooms, at the airport, in the office or at the theatre.” One aspect of pleasing the ever-fickle public in this regard is flexibility; thus, Brunner’s Grato series of modular waiting furniture is programmed for maximum maneuverability. The straight-run and corner elements take the varied forms of stools, benches, easy chairs, and two- or three-seaters (arm-rests optional).

Grato Bench. Designed by Brunner.

Comfortable Seating for the Public Sphere

Grato’s easy-to-link modular components make it easy to create configurations for any environment. This spatial freedom is perhaps best exemplified with the lazily serpentining bench/sofa seating pictured in Grato’s signature Teal. The piece illustrates how curved, straight, and corner elements can be combined to construct contract seating that dazzles the eye and pleases the posterior. And while Grato emphasizes the solutions approach of such symphonically sonorous compositions, they’re quick to remind us that the individual elements also work well as “Soloists…, e.g., in a classic reception environment.”

Classic reception will be well-served, indeed, by any of Grato’s individual pieces, especially the handsome swivel easy chair in dark leather and glossy chrome. But if soft fabric quilting hits higher notes for your space, Brunner can arrange that too. Other options for the Grato Collection include matching side and laptop tables, “backless” bracket or sled-style frames, and multi-zone spring frame support.