A sculpture that is not decoration
In a showroom, you naturally expect to find inspiration for the workplace. What you don’t usually expect is to encounter it before you even step inside — in the form of The Secretary by David Černý. She stands in front of the entrance to the Ahrend showroom in Prague’s Hostivař district. She doesn’t smile. She doesn’t feel welcoming. And she certainly won’t offer you a coffee. And yet, she may well be the most eloquent receptionist around.
The workplace is not just about furniture
Ahrend has long been focused on what a workplace should look like — how it should support concentration, health, collaboration, and overall wellbeing. How it should be functional, thoughtful, and sustainable. And then art steps in, reminding us that work is not only about ergonomics, acoustics, and well-designed spaces. It also carries emotion, tension, curiosity — and sometimes even provocation.
When design meets discomfort
It’s interesting how well office design aligns with art that makes you slightly uneasy. Perhaps because both share a common goal: not to leave you indifferent. A well-designed workplace subtly guides you to focus better, collaborate more effectively, and feel comfortable. Good art does something similar — it just says it more directly.
The secretary as a first impression
The Secretary by David Černý is not just a sculpture. It is a first impression. A pause. A moment when you realise you’re not simply passing another building filled with office furniture. Those who walk past without noticing may just be on their way to browse furniture. Those who stop might begin to sense that a workplace is not only about objects, but also about ideas, atmosphere, and the feelings a space can evoke.
Ahrend and art: a connection that works
Perhaps this is where the real strength of the connection between Ahrend and art lies. Ahrend doesn’t only show what an office can look like — it shows how it can feel. That a workplace doesn’t have to be just functional and well-designed, but also inspiring, bold, and capable of evoking emotion. And sometimes, all it takes is a single piece of art at the entrance. Because a space doesn’t begin at the desk. It begins the moment it makes you stop.
