Actiu has introduced Qyos V4, a new generation of acoustic pods designed to give people greater control over privacy, concentration and comfort in shared environments. Positioned as adaptable microarchitecture rather than simply office furniture, the system is intended to help commercial workplaces and hospitality spaces balance open-plan collaboration with the growing need for focused work, confidential conversations, video calls and restorative breaks.
For UK office designers and specifiers, that balance has become an increasingly important part of workplace planning. Hybrid working has changed how offices are used, with many spaces now required to support concentrated individual tasks alongside meetings, social interaction and virtual communication. This next generation of Qyos pods offer an alternative to permanent construction, allowing organisations to introduce enclosed settings within existing floorplans and reconfigure them as workplace needs evolve.
The updated range features a refreshed design, new finishes, integrated technology and expanded configuration options. Reflecting Actiu’s wider Life Friendly Spaces philosophy, which argues that environments should adapt to people rather than requiring people to adapt to them, Qyos has several updates to its accessibility to help those with reduced mobility. This includes a zero-threshold entry which eliminates high floor lips or steps to allow for smooth transit into pods, a wider door clearance to align with international accessibility standards, reversible doors which allow for door reconfiguration to optimise the approach space in tight footprints and flexible table configurations offer appropriate knee clearance for seated or wheelchair-using professionals.
A broader choice of melamines and customisable panels have been developed to help the pods sit well within different interior schemes. Biophilic options further extend the design possibilities, enabling workplace teams to connect the product with material, colour and planting strategies used across the wider office. Internally, the range can be specified with low or high tables, soft seating, stools and fittings for mounted screens.
Acoustic performance is central to the system. Qyos uses insulating foams and materials made from recycled PET plastic, together with acoustic glass intended to limit sound transfer both into and out of the pod. Integrated connectivity, low-consumption LED lighting and an air-renewal system for improved ventilation are designed to support comfortable use throughout the working day.
The structure combines steel frames with extruded aluminium profiles and a clipping system that provides access to the coverings without tools. This approach simplifies assembly, disassembly and maintenance while improving robustness and stability. For commercial offices and hospitality environments, the ability to relocate or reconfigure pods may also help extend their useful life and reduce reliance on disruptive building work when teams, layouts or occupancy patterns change.
The development of Qyos has been informed by research undertaken with the Neuroarchitecture Laboratory at the Universitat Politècnica de València. Testing revealed that participants using Qyos booths showed a 9.98% improvement in attention and an 8.76% improvement in memory, alongside a 7.1% reduction in fatigue and a 9.2% reduction in required effort. The findings support the company’s argument that spatial conditions can influence cognitive performance and day-to-day wellbeing.
The range also includes Qyos Bloom, a configuration created specifically for short periods of pause and recovery. Designed to help users reduce mental load and regain energy before returning to work, it broadens the pod’s role beyond concentration and communication.
With Qyos V4, Actiu is ready to meet the needs of any project, bringing architecture, furniture and workplace technology together in a flexible system for changing commercial interiors.
