naoto fukasawa shelving system for artek

alongside the debut screening of their new documentary on enzo mari’s ‘autoprogettazione’, finnish furniture company artek will be celebrating 75 years of art and technology production with a presentation at spazio rossana orlandi at milan design week 2010. the exhibition will include ‘shelving system’ by japanese designer naoto fukasawa.

‘shelving system’

the modular shelving unit features lacquered birch ladders, painted MDF shelves with zinc and aluminium supports. fukasawa has created the system based on the principles of finnish designer alvar aalto’s L-system and the idea of modular pieces, allowing for customizable furnishings. the shelving system can be realized in any size or configuration, and can also be used as a room divider.

‘I have always associated (alvar) aalto’s furniture designs, which highlight the graciousness of plain wood, with square building blocks. the basis for this design lies in the image of a plain wood cube with slightly rounded edges. the sections where the shelves and support brace meet affords the design a gentle feel, the kind of feeling that can likewise be attributed to a stack of building blocks with rounded edges. the intersection of the x-shaped brace is fashioned from cast aluminium and has an unadorned, rough feel to it.‘ – naoto fukasawa

‘shelving system’, high unit ‘shelving system’, low unit

up close of zinc and aluminum supports

detail all images by juoko lehtola