Flatbox wall secretary, Melamine black with birch edge (technology package 1)

The inner workings of the Flatbox secretary with fluorescent light and plug socket.

Designer

Michael Hilgers trained as a cabinetmaker before studying architecture and subsequently establishing his design studio in Berlin. Trading as !idee: Michael Hilgers develops niche products that meet his understanding of contemporary functionality. Nothing that is purely beautiful, and nothing that already exists in a thousand various forms leaves Hilgers' creative workshop. Rather Hilgers' develops projects such as the Wall mounted bureau Flatbox for Müller Small Living in which a superficial simplicity hides an a functionality which elegantly solves everyday problems. With for example, Deskbridge not only can the computer monitor be brought to eye level but with the bridge-like desk attachment all desk accessories can be stored and organised. In addition to product design Michael Hilgers is also a successful retail and interior designer. In addition to Flatbox his designs for Müller Small Living include the secretaries Flatmate and Flatframe.

The Müller Small Living headquarters in Bockhorn, Germany

The Design

Michael Hilgers' award-winning bureau Flatmate provides the formal basis for his Flatbox bureau; however, freed from the supporting base and conceived as a wall mounted solution Flatbox offers the same interior, but can be set at any height and is therefore suitable not only as either a sitting or standing workstation, but also, for example, as a children's desk. With a depth of just 12.2 cm in the closed state, once opened Flatbox offers enough space for a small domestic workspace including a 42 x 71 cm work surface and storage space on the rear internal wall. A fluorescent light and a plug socket complete this most compact of home offices. Crafted from birch plywood Flatbox by Michael Hilgers is available through Müller Small Living with either a white melamine finish or lacquered in a range of colours.

The wall secretary Flatbox was designed by Michael Hilgers.

Manufacturer

Although established in 1869 in the northern German town of Bockhorn Müller Small Living owes its current production philosophy and portfolio to a decision taking some 100 years later by the then, and current, CEO Dierk focus on contemporary designer furniture which was relevant for its time and provided solutions for everyday problems. One of the first such products, and an object which has been in the Müller Small Living portfolio ever since, is the stacking bed system by Rolf Heide. Presented in 1969 at the Cologne Furniture Fair Heide's wooden bed is not only a design classic, but also formally marks the origins of the modern Müller Small Living. Over the decades Müller Small Living have expanded their collection with further works by Rolf Heide in addition to works by younger designers including Steffen Schellenberger, Ariane März and Michael Hilgers.