Among the 2000+ design firms represented at Salone, Narbutas represents a bit of a darkhorse. Though the Lithuanian company has been in business for 33 years, 2024 marks the first time they’ve been invited to exhibit at Salone. It’s a coming-in-to-their-own moment for Narbutas International Marketing Director Gabrielė Vaitonytė-Galdikienė, and Narbutas International Head of Workplace Design Simonas Savickas, as well as the entire workplace team. As Gabrielė and Simonas remark, “Participating in the Milan trade fair indicates a company’s maturity. It equates with prestige. We had been trying to get on the exhibitor list for some time so it’s nice to feel strong and relevant.”

Twist and Sit Lounge by Narbutas.

When asked how Narbutas would like to be perceived at the fair, the duo emphasize the trinity of sustainability, design, and custom-made production: three auspicious objectives all on evidence in the products below.

Aura Office Chair

A new line designed to let you find a comfortable position for work as well as for relaxation, Aura offers a soft backrest and seat with enough wiggle room to ensure comfort. Intuitive adjustments let users match the chair to pressing bodily needs: the backrest may be locked in five different positions that smoothly and softly return to neutral when needed. Polished aluminum and black plastic bases can be combined with different types of armrests. And options for upholstery include fabric, leather look, and genuine leather. Aura offers a wide variety of available colors—a distinctive character for this workhorse of the workspace.

Round PET Felt

While the Pandemic may be well in our rear-view mirror, the all-purpose space divider is here to stay. Narbutas offers contributions to this realm in the form of PET felt acoustic products like the versatile, smooth-edged Round. Encouraging responsible use of resources and contributing to waste reduction, Round is made from 50%+ recycled plastic. The coup here is that it feels similar to wool to the touch, making for a nice tactile experience—an enviable combo of aesthetic appeal, privacy/protection, and sound reduction. Round is primarily for desk partitions, but the company’s full line of PET products also includes artwork, free-standing screens, ceilings, and various felt accessories for a quieter work environment.

Arqus Desk

Arqus is a slick, streamlined, and versatile performer that “expresses leadership at first sight.” The worktop features an intriguing assymetrical shape which, coupled with the sharply slanting legs and cantilevered style, offers a nice metaphor for adapting to evolving circumstances and the ability to look at things from a “different angle.” Light and dynamic, Arqus is simple to disassemble, made from components that are easy to re-incorporate into the product stream.

If you’re lucky enough to attend this year’s show, don’t miss the Narbutas exhibit. Alternatively, you can stay in the office and peruse the company’s offerings from their website at narbutas.com.