The organizers of this year's biennial Orgatec fair in Cologne-Europe's largest event devoted to work organization-will present a new formula and a new approach to the subject in October. Work is a priority issue in the 21st century. Not only technologies, but also requirements for the workplace are changing, and today the office is becoming a central focus of people's lives. "Life and work are increasingly intertwined, so we cannot talk about just work, but about living at work," says Oliver P. Kuhrt, executive vice-president of Koelnmesse GmbH, the organizer. "We have decided to transform our fair from a purely product event into a wide-ranging theme event. That does not mean office furniture will be presented on the margin. On the contrary, we are expanding our spectrum of subjects and including new groups. Orgatec 2004 will present the whole design process. Furnishing modern office space of the future must have a concrete connection with architecture, construction design and property. We perceive the furniture industry as an intelligent partner for developers, architects and managers. A modern workplace can only be created when all interested parties join their efforts."

During the fair, the workplace of the future will be discussed. Participants will include renowned German managers, furniture producers, architects, management experts and scientists who study work. Discussion forums will be divided into four thematic blocks-architecture, management, office and trends. The organizers hope the discussion will help answer questions about how people will work in the future and what they can do to make the workplace a functional, effective, creative and friendly place.