It's a positive thing that we're all different; that humanity isn't made up of automatons who all have the same wants, needs, and desires. Unfortunately while each of us can furnish our homes in whichever way we see fit, the same isn't true of our places of work. Those who work in offices generally have to make do with whatever furniture is provided, even if it doesn't suit their individual needs. Providing options is therefore a good strategy, and XTable from Holmris offers nothing but options.
There is a current craze for standing desks, sweeping homes and offices around the world. The idea – born from the suggestion that inactivity is responsible for long-term health issues – is to force people who sit down all day to stand while working at their computers. Some people have taken to standing desks well, while others – myself included – need to adjust their positions throughout the day to remain comfortable. For those in the latter group, a height-adjustable desk would seem to be both a simple and elegant solution ... that's assuming the Locus workstation, which attempts to split the difference between sitting and standing, is not appropriate.
XTable, designed by Danish design studio KiBiSi, takes what is an established method for adjusting heights and applies it to office furniture. The table comprises a rectangular tabletop supported by a cross-shaped pair of legs. These are set far enough back from the sitting position so as not to limit legroom, but are planted on the floor by sturdy horizontal runners lying front to back on each side.
The legs can be adjusted to different heights using a hand crank, in a similar way to how ironing boards and car jacks operate. This means that XTable can be raised or lowered to suit an individual's needs as and when required. XTable could also be used in a hot desking environment, with each person who shares the workspace able to quickly and easily modify it to suit their own individual tastes.
There are of course existing solutions in a similar vein, such as legs that can be adjusted individually, but these tend to require the tabletop to be cleared before any adjustment is made. As XTable rises and falls as one unit, such clearing shouldn't be required. XTable also features an optional storage unit, and the voids necessary to hide any ugly leads.
XTable is fresh off the design table and so isn't yet listed on the Holmris website. Therefore, pricing and availability aren't currently known.
