The World's Greenest and Most Economical Shelving System? - Remodelista
During our recent remodel, my husband and I realized a dream we’ve had since we met in architecture school: we purchased our first set of Vitsoe 606 Universal Shelves.
For the last 25 years, Adams tells me, he’s been working to make the company’s production and manufacturing processes as sustainable as the furniture itself (in fact...
...Ph.D. candidates at the University of Cambridge and Imperial College use Vitsoe and its manufacturing ecosystem as a case study for their research on industrial sustainability).”Our goal is to generate as little waste as possible,” Adams says.
The newly installed Vitsoe shelving system in our London living room. Vitsoe’s 606 Universal Shelving system is available in various shelf widths and lengths, drawers, desks, and tabletops that can be configured to suit a range of storage needs.
Vitsoe Shelving in Situ
Photograph by Kristen Perers.
With cabinets running approximately $1,000 each and the shelves costing between $90 and $100, depending on length, the 606 is an investment.
Photograph by Kristen Perers.
A Vitsoe 606 kitchen (the owners have since moved and repurposed the shelving in the study of their new home).
Photograph courtesy of Vitsoe.
An impromptu closet made from the 606 Universal Shelving system.
Photograph courtesy of Vitsoe.
Photograph courtesy of Vitsoe.
Above (L to R): Dieter Rams and Mark Adams.
Behind the Scenes
“To this day, Dieter is constantly reminding me of the importance of single-mindedness in getting something done right,” Adams says.
“Over the years, we’ve invested in reusable solutions to avoid packaging waste; for instance, our wooden stillages (shown above) for transporting components between suppliers have been in continuous use for 20 years.”
Photograph courtesy of Vitsoe.
Photograph courtesy of Vitsoe.
Cabinets are transported to customers in reusable custom bags that cost £100 each. After delivery, Vitsoe’s installers remove the bags and reuse them for future deliveries.
“Furniture only stays long-living and relevant if you continue to evolve it,” Adams says.
