Elements is the name if the modular DIY shelving system from the Parisian studio NOCC. The beauty of this concept is in its simplicity. These aluminium sheets are lazer-cut to be folded and assembled into a variety of shapes. In its disassembled state the Elements shelving takes very little space, which is not only comfortable for the user, but also makes for environmentally conscious manufacturing process and packaging. The product is currently displayed at the Nouvelle Vague exhibition, held at the Centre Culturel Français in Milan.
Bookworms – rejoice. There is a new way of storing and displaying your favorite tomes. Dutch designer Remi Van Oers created an entire furniture line, dedicated to reading. Made from wood and fabric, these pieces are not only modern and elegant, they also include a much needed book storage (the chair is equipped with the light to complete the experience). All pieces allow very generous space for books, making them a subject of showcase and a proud part of the design. A room full of book just got the whole lot cooler…
Source: Co.Design
Here is a pretty straight-forward idea for a simple and functional storage – Cosmos Wall Cubes. Made from MDF, these multi-colored modular units come in three sizes and can be combined into many different configurations. You can stack them on top of each other, hang them on your walls, integrate them into other furniture pieces, – variations are endless. The Cosmos Wall Cubes can be purchased online from the Smart Furniture website.
Like many great things – this one was created by accident. One day St-Petersburg based designer Soslan Naniev was designing a street bench and came with the idea of a chair that can at the same time work as a stool. In its stool version, the item can be tucked under the table. And when the formal dining situation looms on you, you can transform it with the flick of a finger into a believably looking chair. Nice and simple.
This modular furniture collection by designer Sanjin Halilovic can play several roles – from a shelving unit to a table, chair, even chaise-lounge. The set consists of four elements that are constructed of wooden plaques fixed together with drvofix adhesive and finished in acrylic mat paint. Rearranging them is easy, and by doing so one can build different objects. Don’t we just love when one pice of furniture doubles, triples (and in this case – quadruples) in function?
Is it a couch, lounger, or sectional? The Fossa sofa from COR is all of the above. Created by French designer Aurélien Barbry, this unusual piece of furniture functions according to the principle of change. Not only Fossa can be used as a building block for creating different configurations, the very structure of it is also adjustable. The cushions are placed in recesses. They are inserted, moved or removed, which makes Fossa even more dynamic. These recesses, when not filled with cushions, can be used to store books, magazines and other small items. And with plentiful color combinations available, the Fossa sofa can be customized to fit any design whim.
If you are looking for a non-linear solution for your shelving – consider this cool and colorful Parametric Bookshelf from Caterina Tiazzoldi. The unit is custom-built to your liking (you determine three crucial parameters – length, height and color), which is another advantage for us, space-challenged folks. This interactive approach lets you co-create and personalize your shelving, effectively utilizing your living space, no matter how big or small… Clever stuff!
This inspired piece of design was created by Jiyoung Seo, who is studying at the HDK School of Design and Crafts in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Catalist Shelf is equipped with the silicone flap that not only keeps books in place, but can also serve as a bookmark. ‘My shelves aim to invite the user to interact with its form, – says designer, – they utilize various “play signals” that engage the user to touch, feel, and react to the object… The Catalyst shelf has a thinner layer on the upper part that holds things like books, papers, pens, whatever you want. And can also be used as a bookmark. A bookmark of your favorite page can make this shelf more special for you.’
Photographs taken by Annie Song
Source: Dezeen
French designer Matali Crasset has done it again. His new creation, the Double Side chair, is a fine attempt to make our lives a little easier. The piece holds a double function, with one easy movement it can be transformed into a small desk, that can hold your laptop, writing paraphernalia, lunch etc. ‘At home today the structures are fixed, like a paused video with a paused picture, life is changing and it’s in movement and it reactivates the video so to speak. My projects work in the interstices of the activities, in passages between one paused picture to another in order to reattach them to one another and to renew the movement and the action in between the spaces,’ – Crasset says. The Double Side chair will be presented as a part of Danese exposition during the Salone del Mobile 2011 in Milan. 
This anti-consumerist idea of a mobil room belongs to German design studio Caluso Concept. As a response to the increased flexibility and mobility of today’s life, designers Marcel Krings and Sebastian Mühlhäuser combined all furniture essentials in one compact box, which can be easily moved. ‘We take on obligations and responsibilities and obtain house goods far beyond what we really need. When it comes time to move we are aware of the burden of our increasing accumulations. We must overcome our fundamental ideas of consuming so that we can move and change,’ – they say on their website. So, if you frequently move houses (and can stop yourself from acquiring things) – this mobil solution is for you. Check the video below to see the demonstration.
Source: The Designer Pad
