Arkus by Tischlerei Wolfgang Meusburger, designed by Federico Gianni and Tanja Foretic

The Arkus is a bookshelf and a piece of micro-architecture in one. The vision behind Arkus is to transform an industrial material, such as birch plywood, into a piece of furniture that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Our ambition is to create a small-scale, spatial construction that defines its environment, a micro-architecture.

The design is driven by a logic of efficiency. Firstly, over 93% of the wooden sheet is used in the final product, minimizing waste. Simplified production processes significantly reduce manufacturing time and energy consumption. The structure consists exclusively of birch plywood and metal hinges to ensure durability and recyclability.

The transformation of the sheets into shelves follows three logical phases: cutting, opening, and assembly.

1. Cutting: Extracting the long arcs (shelves) from the flat surface.
2. Opening: Five vertical cuts allow the main frame to open out like a fan, creating the skeleton for the horizontal elements.
3. Assembly: Interlocking, snap-fit connections facilitate straightforward assembly, repair, and part replacement (Design for Disassembly).

The aesthetic of Arkus brings rhythmic elegance and the natural warmth of wood to everyday spaces. Drawing inspiration from the Italian Renaissance and the interplay of light and shadow, it remains modern and functional in essence. Why choose Arkus? Either because of its unique aesthetic language, or because of its material ethics. Either way, it’s a great choice!