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Elegant, practical and incredibly versatile, Rombe explores the concept of “sculptural utility” in a conveniently modular design.
When it comes to furniture design, shelving systems usually sit at the lower end of the visual impact scale. More often than not, they only serve a practical purpose of storage and/or item display, whether it’s books, a vinyl record collection, or decorative items. Rombe changes the perception of shelving as a mere utilitarian product with a thoughtful design that transforms the ubiquitous piece of furniture into the highlight of a room. Created by London-based design studio Industrial Facility for Danish brand &Tradition, this shelving unit pairs minimalist forms and refined details with a modular system, allowing users to build the perfect shelves for their home or office.
Studio founders Kim Colin and Sam Hecht explored the concept of “sculptural utility” when designing the shelving system, resulting in a highly practical and flexible piece of furniture that looks beautiful in virtually any décor.
Named after the delicate rhomboid shape of the upright brackets, Rombe exudes quiet elegance. The structure only touches the wall at the fewest possible points; this detail not only leaves room between the shelves and the wall for cable management, but also helps to preserve décor elements such as paneling or decorative moldings. Concealed fixings and joints also give the entire structure a light appearance.
A breeze to assemble, Rombe requires only a standard Allen key which is already included in a hidden storage space in the top bracket. Users can position the adjustable shelves at different heights to build the ideal layout. Plus, adjustable feet enable easy installation even on uneven flooring. Rombe comes in 11 variations that can be mix-and-matched in various ways, with desk units and cabinets also available to enhance the functionality of the unit further. Finally, the alabaster or anthracite frame options each come with matching shelves or with oak or walnut shelves to create the perfect look for a specific room.
&Tradition has introduced Rombe at this year’s edition of 3daysofdesign. Held in the brand’s showroom in Copenhagen, “The Printed Page” talk saw Kim Colin and Sam Hecht of Industrial Facility examining the role of analogue materials in their work, and the research that informed the design of Rombe. Photography© &Tradition.
