"Today people work everywhere-not just in an office-and the message here is that pieces that are easily adaptable are more likely to remain relevant." Such is the brief for Knoll's "Tools For Life," an innovative suite of functional and flexible furnishings designed by Rem Koolhaas and his studio, OMA.

Modern Aesthetic Meets Contemporary Function

Each of the 11 pieces that comprise Tools For Life is unmistakably Modern. Incorporating the clean lines and minimalist geometry of materials such as clear acrylic, wood laminate, travertine, and aluminum, the collection evokes the "form is function" mandate of modernist luminaries like Mies van der Rohe.

The look is timeless, but of greater interest yet is the way these pieces work-transforming form and function both through a series of clever structural devices to match the fluidity of the live-work lifestyle.

Examples of this include the 04 Counter, a monolithic wall unit of wood laminate which would seem to be stacked, but actually rotates into various shelves and cantilevered benches. There's also the 05 Round Table-sporting an attractive aluminum base and equally compelling travertine top-which raises and lowers courtesy of an electric motor.

Other pieces in the collection include height-adjustable arm chairs, swivel lounge chairs, and an adjustable stool with an internal gas assist mechanism and multiple upholstery options.

For specifying information, contact Knoll at 1-800-343-5665.

About the Manufacturer: Committed to innovation in modern design, Knoll creates contract furniture with "imagination and vision." From tables and desks to textiles and accessories, Knoll offers a comprehensive portfolio of furniture for living, working, and everything in between. Over 40 of the manufacturer's products are in the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.