Unveiled at this year’s 3DaysofDesign festival, Danish design house &tradition launched a new modular shelving system conceived by London studio Industrial Facility
Rombe is a new shelving system conceived by London design studio Industrial Facility for Danish design house &Tradition. Photography by &Tradition
Words by Roddy Clarke
Seamlessly blending utility and form, the new Rombe modular shelving system by Industrial Facility for &Tradition is an impressive addition to the Danish design house’s vast compendium of furniture for the home. Being the first of its kind in typology for &Tradition, the system takes stimulus from industrial shelving systems while finding relevance within a domestic context.
When approached by &Tradition 3 years ago to conceive a shelving system that its customers would understand, the London-based creative duo behind Industrial Facility, Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, used an architectural approach. ‘They asked us to create a system which customers would be happy to live with and live around,” Colin explains, “which is a challenge when most industrial systems have been conceived for the context of industrial spaces.’ Studying the work of architect and designer Finn Juhl was a starting point for the project, the duo explains, while taking into consideration how people are living with things today. ‘The result is Sculptural Utility,’ says Hecht. ‘It is the ability for storage to behave as a system while also contributing to an eclectic aesthetic.’
The system’s modular construction and seamless configuration gives it the perfect balance between function and form. Photography by &Tradition
Anchored to the wall at just four points, Rombe’s shelving, desk and cabinet components attach to the extruded aluminium upright brackets leaving a gap from the wall behind. While offering convenient practicality for running and hiding cables behind the system, this distance also gives the system an elegant stature – elevating it into a stand-alone piece rather than just a functional arrangement. And, with easy disassembly and a customisable flexibility to its configuration, the system reflects the needs of modern users today and the need for such systems to continue evolving as circumstances adapt and change.
The system is available with desk, cabinet and shelving options. Photography by &Tradition
With attention to detail a key component of the duo’s approach, taking into consideration the variety of settings it would be placed in was paramount with the distance from the wall adjustable to maintain a straight profile for the system’s framework throughout. Alongside adjustable feet catering for the difference found in uneven flooring, the construction of the system has also been kept minimal – with users provided with an Allen-key housed neatly within the aluminium frame for safe keeping (a very handy addition!).
Founded in 2002, Industrial Facility has become renowned for its meticulous approach to design, making it the perfect partner to envision the desired outcome to a complex challenge. Drawing on Hecht’s background as an industrial designer and Colin’s architectural expertise, the intricacy of Rombe’s construction sits with a quiet confidence, making it an elegant backdrop for books and accessories to be displayed upon. ‘It speaks to the spirit of what we enjoy about &Tradition,’ Colin continues. ‘It is a bridge between old and new, where furniture, and how we live with it, is deliberately left open to interpretation.’
Launched at 3DaysofDesign, the shelving system was presented alongside a range of new products in a showcase titled ‘The Living Archive’. Photography by &Tradition
With its name referencing the shape of the vertical brackets that support the design, it highlights again the level of detail and consideration that has been given to each component with this shape offering a stronger load-bearing ability. One of the project’s biggest challenges, the duo state, was to create a series of configurations that allowed enough flexibility while giving users a sense of direction in choosing what works for their space. Resulting in 11 options, the system can be arranged in single, double or triple bay variants, with shelving, desk or cabinet assemblies available depending on the user’s priorities. With additional bays available to add later if required, the flexibility of the system is set to become an attractive prospect for homeowners across the world.
Launched at this year’s 3DaysofDesign, alongside the opening of &Tradition’s newly-appointed Petra Hotel, the shelving system was presented within ‘The Living Archive’ – an invitation from the brand to step back, slow down and to experience a unique take on a library setting; ‘not bound by silence but a sensory experience that feels open and alive.’ In witnessing the seamless elegance of the system within the context of this setting, it was interesting to see the results of this first collaboration between the two outfits, with both creative identities captured within its calm confidence and refined aesthetic.
Rombe is available in two finishes: Alabaster and Anthracite with oak and walnut veneer options for the cabinet and desk components.
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