Stories On Design // Top Shelf.

I am yet to meet a person that doesn’t love a good (book)shelf. Just take yourself for example – do you love a good shelf? Of course you do, don’t be ridiculous. I’ve posted about my love of bookshelves and libraries a number of times in the past. This time I wanted to focus on a similar idea but in a slightly broader context. Today’s story focuses on shelving that’s more than just the name itself suggests. Top Shelf is an ode to joinery elements that play an integral part within interior architecture. Top Shelf acts both as a sculptural and a functional room divider, a hero of the room, a device which defines the space and renders it with it’s own unique character, and in some cases acts as a vertical linking device, or even as a staircase.

I think the reason there is such a strong collective love for bookshelves and shelves in general is the fact that books and objects can furnish a space better than furniture ever could. These objects infuse a space with a sense of familiarity and warmth, texture, colour, depth and character. In this progressively digital and intangible world we live in, shelving gives us the ability to display the real and the tangible. Top Shelf is the celebration of the analogue, and even if it was just for this reason alone, these joinery structures are becoming an increasingly important element within architecture and interiors.

See More ‘Stories on Design’ Curated by Yellowtrace.

Images courtesy of Ruetemple.

Architect Workshop by Ruetemple in Moscow, Russia // Inside this former garage interior, sits an arresting joinery setup which unifies the shelving, the work desk and a staircase all in one. Beautifully done.

Photography by Stéphane Chalmeau.

Arsenal Flat by h2oarchitectes // The project is articulated around three connected and sequenced living spaces which are defined in function of uses, light and multiple views. The common living space is open and partitioned by elements of furniture which have all been designed follow the sloping of the roof-line, forming a landscape of “totems”. These include bookshelves and diverse storage spaces which give this interesting apartment it’s own unique character.

Photography by Magic Penny.

Haitang Villa by ARCHSTUDIO // Located in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, this three-story townhouse was designed around the basic concept of using the changes within the materials and spaces to blur the boundary between indoor and outdoor, and to create an open environment that’s rich in layers. The design of the first floor (pictured) is developed around the living room and the study – oak grilles and shelving were designed to meet the requirements of the client, an avid collector of books, and to create a sense of layered semi-transparencies between the inside and the outside.

Photos by Koichi Torimura.

FIKA by ON Design Partners Tokyo // Designed by ON design partners, FIKA is a home that converts into a weekend shop selling scandinavian collectibles. Separated by a full-height white shelving unit, the shop and the home merge into a single space creating a unique and intimate shopping experience. Built on a corner block that measures just 35sqm (no, that’s not a typo), the house takes up approximately 58sqm over three floors.

Amazing, no? Next time I hear someone complain about how small their place is (including yours truly), I will instantly be pointing them in the direction of this project. Boom!

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Kenichi Suzuki.

Geo Metria by Mount Fuji Architects Studio, Kanagawa, Japan // The planks of the roof beams fold down and divide the pavilion up into little open rooms. Bookshelves are slotted in between – how I love a room full of books. How I love ‘just enough’ spaces. How I wish I’d thought of this! The ceiling is jacked up so that the space opens to views out over the landscape below. It’s not a lot but it’s really beautiful.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photo by José Campos.

Loft Three Marias by AVA Architects // The designers chose to keep as much of the existing space as possible, preserving the apartment’s old timber floor and the existing layout of the rooms, with the added extension of two bathrooms. Harmoniously combining contemporary elements with the property’s history, including the elaborate stucco decorations on the ceilings, the designers have created an airy and calm living space that displays a sense of playfulness and humour.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images © CLS Architetti.

Penthouse Zurich, 2014 by CLS Architetti // The interior design of the duplex penthouse, conceptualised by Massimiliano Locatelli and Franca Sozzani, has radically transformed the space, making it flexible and adaptable to the client’s requirements. The project features large volumes faced with different materials that open and close to create an open space, or a more traditional home divided into rooms.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by FG+SG – Fernando Guerra.

Warborn Apartment by Caiano Morgado Arquitectos Associados // The project consists of a duplex apartment on the top floor of a sea-facing building. Walls and ceiling melt into one or bend in order to show the way. Similarly, the bookshelves play with our perceptions by opening up towards the window, creating distorted, playful perspective lines.

Photo by Shannon McGrath.

Alfred Street Residence by studiofour // Melbourne office Studio Four has used light American oak for the built-in furniture at this home in Victoria, which has been refurbished and extended to make it fit for a growing family. A wall of shelving surrounds the passage between the living room and the kitchen, resolving the difference in floor-to-ceiling heights between the old and the new part of the house.

Photo © Iwan Baan.

UNStudio Collectors Loft in New York // I have a lot of love for this loft in Greenwich Village in New York City, designed by Amsterdam-based UNStudio for a collector of modern and contemporary art. Breathtaking crisp sweeping planes that never seem to end, fluid spaces with soft ambient lighting, that clean ceiling (where are all the services hiding?), joinery growing out of walls creating space for the library and art display… I could go on and on. Beautiful stuff.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Javier Callejas Sevilla.

Ficus Apartment by CUAC Arquitectura in Granada, Spain // The rectilinear version of it’s friend sitting above, this interior was also designed for a collector. The theatrical shelving extends to wrap the entire interior, while the black & white approach to colour adds to the spatial drama. Slick and clever.

Photography by Ricardo Oliveira Alves.

Casa na Rua de Sao Mamede by Aires Mateus Associados // 18th century castle Casa na Rua de São Mamede ao Caldas sits on a hillside in Lisbon, Portugal. Designed by Portuguese architects Manuel Rocha Aires Mateus and Francisco Xavier Aires Mateus of Aires Mateus Arquitectos, the historic estate has been restored to its former grandeur, including this sublime oversized shelf inside the home library.

Photography by Sid Siva.

The Pavilion Synopsis by Studio M in Dubai // Located in Downtown Dubai, The Pavilion is a dedicated non-profit contemporary cultural centre providing a place to view, discuss and participate in work by local, regional and international artists. The Pavilion is anchored by two gallery spaces and offers a library, lounge, restaurant, espresso bar and screening room. Freestanding bookshelves act as 3D transparent walls which control the views and access points between the corridor and the reading area.

Photography by Ken’ichi Suzuki.

Tree House by Mount Fuji Architects Studio in Tokyo, Japan // Located in a typical residential area of northern Tokyo, this home, designed for a young couple, sits in close proximity to it’s neighbouring homes. The problem with this was a shortage of natural light and privacy. To resolve this issue, the architects chose a ‘centripetal tendency’ by limiting the building horizontally. They selected the polar-coordinate-system as the geometry of the architecture instead of the cartesian-coordinate-system – each level frame was rotated and reproduced by 11.25 degrees and every frame is 55mm higher than the next one. I hope you got that cause I’m struggling. Anyway, The result is a sculptural interior which looks like a big tree.

Photography by Ken’ichi Suzuki.

Shore House by Mount Fuji Architects Studio // Ok, so we’ve already established that Mout Fuji Architects rock at designing homes which have an abundance of shelves within them (see project above + scroll up closer to to the top to see the other example). This project is no exception – an oversized shelf extends down the side of the entire interior, also forming a dividing screen at the back of the house. Genius.

Images courtesy of Pedevilla Architekten.

Wohnhaus Pliscia 13 by Pedevilla Architekten // Wohnhaus Pliscia 13 is a private home designed by Pedevilla Architekten, located in San Vigilio di Marebbe, Italy. Regional ornaments and characteristic features, such as a gabled roof, a porch and timber façade are used throughout the hose as a reference to the vernacular architecture. The interiors is minimal and bare, and the inclusion of a single pine bookshelf (or are we better off calling it a screen?) provide a quirky little moment which I personally adore.

Photo by Takumi Ota.

Storage House by Ryuji Fujimura Architects // A timber shelf climbs the walls of this four-storey house in Kanagawa, Japan. Starting in the basement, the first set of bookshelves are a storey high, while a second set begin on the first floor and rise up to reach the ceiling of the floor above. A mixture of both concrete and steel staircases connect the levels inside the house, while ladders provide access to a second floor loft and to the highest bookshelves.

Photography by Earl Carter.

Green House by Sean Godsell Architects // This suburban home in Melbourne, Australia, was once a small timber cottage which has been adapted and redesigned by Sean Godsell Architects. The interior of the existing house was remodelled and a new addition built. The architects introduced a cathedral ceiling, with a simple white shelf in the kitchen following the lines of the architecture.

Photography © Yousuke Harigane.

House in Nanakuma by MOVEDESIGN // The layered floor levels of ‘House in Nanakuma’ by Japanese Architects MOVEDESIGN, are connected by a large bookshelf that runs the full-height of the main staircase. Located in Fukuoka, Japan, it is home to three generations and the different levels allow for both individual private spaces – while still giving a sense of openness.

Image via Marie Claire Maison (Paris).

Alessandro Capellaro’s Home in Florence // Italian architect Alessandro Capellaro proves that reuse can be stylish with his Florence apartment. The space was originally a carpentry workshop, but Capellaro gave it a facelift by removing the walls and designing it to accommodate his 300+ wooden crates (more specifically, vintage ballot boxes) purchased at a local flea market. Boxes became storage, a coffee table, a platform for his bed, couch, desk, even walls.

Photo by Toby Scott.

Raven Street House by James Russell Architect in QLD, Australia // Designed by James Russell Architect, Raven Street House is an alteration and addition to a traditional workers cottage in the inner Brisbane suburb of West End. Inside the house, the new structure plays with timber tradition respectfully while also reworking the dark Victorian core. The contrast between the plywood shelving and dark timber facia in this space is particularly beautiful. And how about that tree? Although, admittedly, not the subject of today’s post. My bad.

Photography by Stijn Bollaert.

Bomastraat House by NU Architectuuratelier // In a unique location in the inner city of Ghent, a single family house is constructed within the walls of an old industrial building. The former forge and carpentry became the scene for a new home. Following the project’s industrial character, the architects included three repurposed shipping containers to create cool smaller spaces within this unique big home. Inside the house, the living spaces are bright, triple-glazed and allow for cross-ventilation. A bookshelf constructed from dark-stained veneer plywood doubles as stairs and comprises the living room’s central feature.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photo by Simone Bossi.

La Casa di Andrea by studio duearchitetti in Varese, Italy // This heritage apartment sits on the top floor of a beautiful late 18th century building. The soft and vertical grain of the elm timber welcoming the visitors at the entrance. The same finish reappears in the library and in the kitchen. A beautiful and precious material for its colour, its texture and the way it ages, acting as the perfect bridge between the neutral concrete and warm timber ceiling.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photo by Xia Zhi.

Xinsi Hutong House by Arch Studio // Arch Studio has renovated this unassuming traditional hutong house in Beijing’s Dongcheng District into a modern family residence. To maximise the sense of openness, the designers have used vertical timber slats throughout in various ways: as screens instead of solid walls allowing daylight access; as sliding doors for built-in bookcases which house the owners large book collection; and across ceilings as a continuation of the vertical screens and doors. The result is an environment that is both rich, textural and tranquil.

Photo by Jason Schmidt.

Sarah Morris’ Manhattan Apartment by Paul Rudolph // Sarah Morris makes paintings and films that explore the codes and power structures of cities, corporate institutions, media, and architecture. The apartment in which she has lived since 2012 is the work of the architect Paul Rudolph—the fifth and sixth floors of a neo-Georgian townhouse on Manhattan’s East Side. Morris’s particular unit is more or less in original condition and contains many Rudolph signatures— a wraparound catwalk, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and intricate layering of space and light.

Photo by Mikael Olsson.

Villa Eder Hederus by General Architecture // This timber-panelled extension echoes the design of the 19th-century villa that it adjoins. The extension by Kod Arkitekter and General Architecture
 doubles the floor space of Villa Eder-Hederus, a timber cabin in Kummelnäs, near Stockholm, that has been used as a summer retreat since the 1960s. The new timber-framed extension, which provides a new lounge and master bedroom suite, is clad in sheets of plywood that echo the detailing of the original building.

Image courtesy of João Branco.

Apartment in Coimbra by João Branco // Portuguese architect João Branco has converted a small office building in Coimbra into a home by installing softwood joinery that functions as furniture, storage and partitions. The first wooden structure sits just beyond the entrance. It creates a study area for two people beneath the staircase, but also accommodates a cloakroom, a shelf and a gridded bookshelf.

Photography by Hey!Cheese.

Block Village in Taiwan by HAO Design // Taiwanese practice HAO design has completed its latest interior renovation project in the city of Kaohsiung. Conceived as a ‘block village’, the compact dwelling is connected via a chunky timber stairway that leads to a mezzanine. The additional upper level is divided by the bridge-like passage, accessed by a blocky staircase. A double-storey bookcase covers the wall behind, integrating shelves, windows and a desk.

Images courtesy of sundaymorning.

House in a pinewood by sundaymorning, Marina di Castagneto Carducci, Italy // This bookshelf is more than just a humble shelf – it also acts as a stair, as well as a 3D sculptural centrepiece that defines the transition between the ground and upper floor. I would now love to see how it’s owner is using all the little dividers.

Photography by do mal o menos.

Casa da Escrita by João Mendes Ribeiro in Coimbra, Portugal // Portuguese architect and set designer João Mendes Ribeiro has converted the former house of a poet into a writer’s retreat. The converted house now provides an archive, writing quarters and temporary accommodation for practicing writers. Plywood bookshelves are built around existing opening, with their height measuring up to existing architectural features.

Images courtesy of Shinichi Ogawa & Associates.

Library House by Shinichi Ogawa & Associates in Tochigi, Japan // A living and dining room with six-metre high ceilings sits at the centre of this small white house in Japan by architects Shinichi Ogawa & Associates. The house was designed with a square-shaped plan, creating a symmetrical building where all rooms surround the central living space. A wall of bookshelves lines the edge of this room, while a long narrow skylight spreads natural light across the space.

“It is a house for a client who is a great reader,” says Shinichi Ogawa & Associates. “He can live enjoying his reading time in this quiet but rich space, feeling the change of seasons thanks to the closed courtyards.”

Photography by Thomas Ibsen.

Livsrum Cancer Counseling Center EFFEKT // A cluster of seven house-shaped buildings makes up this cancer care centre in Næstved, Denmark, by Copenhagen firm EFFEKT. EFFEKT planned a series of domestic-scale buildings with gabled roof profiles and arranged them around a pair of courtyards on a site at the Næstved Hospital. Two courtyards are positioned between the buildings and feature paved areas filled with garden furniture. Bookshelves cover entire walls, integrating small window seats, while a mixture of homely furnishings feature throughout.

Photo by Fran Parente.

Loft no Itaim by FGMF Arquitetos in São Paulo, Brazil // The first intervention in this apartment was the demolition of all walls and separations that seemed superfluous to assure greater expressiveness of its best characteristics – the spatiality created by the double height ceiling and large windows. In order to extend this feeling of openness and to organise the books, the architects created a large bookshelf that covers the entire living room. The shelves extend onto open and integrated kitchen joinery, ending in the entrance hall.

Photography by Rafael Flichman.

Maison Kiwi II by Julien Joly Architecture // This shelf is treated as a timber cutout to the otherwise all-white interior. A really interesting effect, don’t you think?

Images courtesy of Pitsou Kedem Architects.

Ramat Hasharon House 13 by Pitsou Kedem Architects // In typical Pitsou Kedem Architects style, this private residence features a minimalist white bookshelf which hardly appears to take up any space at all, while providing display opportunity worthy of a concept retail store.

Photography by Daria Scagliola.

Stedelijk Museum Transformation by MVRDV // MVRDV have completed the transformation of a neoclassical chapel to serve as the entrance of the Stedelijk museum in Schiedam, The Netherlands. The design is clearly distinguished from the existing building with visually bold red shelves. These incorporate a reception desk, a cloakroom, a cafe and display areas. A gap was left around all of the existing features to differentiate between old and new.

Photo by Jose Campos.

Yellow Apartment Renovation by Pedro Varela Renata Pinho // A yellow wall of storage divides this Portuguese apartment by architects Pedro Varela & Renata Pinho. The renovation involved replacing the floor, adding storage and remodelling the kitchen, laundry room and bathroom. The enormous yellow unit includes a pull-out stool with a smiling face for the client’s future child.

Photography by Åke E:son Lindman.

Colourful Stockholm Apartment refurbished by Tham & Videgård Hansson // Inspired by the changing seasonal colours in a nearby park, this Stockholm apartment, refurbished by Swedish architects Tham & Videgård Hansson, takes colour play to a new level. With patterns of colour that mix and spread up the walls and over the floors, it’s certainly what the client asked for: a design that was not “the standard blond Scandinavian interior.” KaPau!

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by kentahasegawa.

Floyd Kitte Marunouchi in Tokyo by Jo Nagasaka/Schemata Architects // Walking into this space one would hardly recognise it as a newly built shop. Ceilings are exposed, floors are unfinished, and plywood boxes scattered everywhere. From a distance it appears as a loading dock or still ‘under construction’. Once inside, the visitors can discover something extraordinary – shiny metal ducts hanging overhead, delicately crafted plywood boxes are almost like artwork with their sharp edges of acrylic shelves radiating beautiful gradation of vivid colours that change according to a viewer’s position.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.