The U*Shelf System

Shelving often acts as a boring backdrop to the various vases, books, and knickknacks on display. Luckily, the U*Shelf's quirky tessellated forms are interesting enough to stand on their own.
The U*Shelf System - Photo 1 of 2 -

Inspired by natural tessellations -- a repeated shape that fits together without any gaps or overlaps, such as a honeycomb or lava flow -- British designer Benjamin Peter played around with shapes until he came up with his U*Shelf system. The DIY pieces easily fit together in infinite combinations, so you can snap together shelves for small, large, or strangely-sized spaces. Or start small and build bigger gradually as you acquire more stuff. We could even see this as a handy, attractive room divider.

Made out of polystyrene because it's "a light, cheap material which allowed not only ambitious set ups but also a price tag accessible to everyone," explains Peter, the pieces are cut carefully from large sheets to leave little leftover waste in manufacture. The overall result is a shelf that starts at around $9.50 apiece, with prices dropping dramatically for larger orders. If you'd like to get some for yourself, contact the designer directly.

The U*Shelf System - Photo 2 of 2 -
a
Amara Holstein
A former editor at Dwell, Amara recently left the glamorous life of a magazine staffer to pursue her freelance writing dream. She has written for Sunset, Wallpaper*, the Architect’s Newspaper, VIA, and Apartment Therapy.

Published

Last Updated

Get the Dwell Newsletter

Be the first to see our latest home tours, design news, and more.

Comments
Private
Start a public conversation on this article by adding your comments below.