Todd Bracher and Humanscale create calming café for Salone del Mobile

Green room: Todd Bracher conjures an urban oasis for Salone del Mobile

Todd Bracher and Humanscale are set to launch a café during Salone del Mobile.

(Image credit: Tom Mannion)

‘Ive been visiting Salone del Mobile for nearly 20 years; jet-lag, meetings [and] continuous exploring put a strain on one’s immune system.’ American designer Todd Bracher is speaking of the annual tumult that most design devotees go through during that arduous week in Milan. His solution? The RE: CHARGE café.

Created in collaboration with ergonomic workspace firm Humanscale, the café appears to do exactly what it says on the tin: to allow a place to ‘recharge mind, body and devices’. Bracher explains, ‘We are offering an environment that is designed to retune your body’s clock and to provide an opportunity to experience some of the latest technologies and products we at Humanscale are exploring.’

Some of these include dynamic charging stations with built-in biological lighting, and an air-purifying wall realised with vertical agriculture specialist Vertical Field. The space will also be scattered with Bracher’s latest designs for Humanscale, including the glare-free ‘Vessel’ pendants and environmentally-friendly ‘Trea’ chair.

Created with the aim of promoting a healthy, ecological lifestyle, the team was inspired by 'Engineered Nature' for the venture, a trend identified by FranklinTil that explores the benefits of human exposure to nature. Keeping in tune with the natural theme, the colour green will appear across the space; splashed on the walls and in the food provided at the health bar.

‘The RE: CHARGE café in Milan [will be] a space that embodies functionality, simplicity, and well-being, while at the same time is still very beautiful,’ says Bob King, CEO and founder of Humanscale. The ‘urban oasis’ will be set up in the bustling Brera district as a place to repose, recharge and have a green shot.

Vessel Light Humanscale — Bracher's 'Vessel' lights are glare-free

INFORMATION
The RE:CHARGE café, by Todd Bracher and Humanscale, will be open from 4–9 April at Salone del Mobile. For more information, visit the Humanscale website

ADDRESS

Via Solferino 18
Brera
Milano 20121

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Sujata Burman is a writer and editor based in London, specialising in design and culture. She was Digital Design Editor at Wallpaper* before moving to her current role of Head of Content at London Design Festival and London Design Biennale where she is expanding the content offering of the showcases. Over the past decade, Sujata has written for global design and culture publications, and has been a speaker, moderator and judge for institutions and brands including RIBA, D&AD, Design Museum and Design Miami/. In 2019, she co-authored her first book, An Opinionated Guide to London Architecture, published by Hoxton Mini Press, which was driven by her aim to make the fields of design and architecture accessible to wider audiences.