Rotterdam-based designer Reinier de Jong has designed an extending bookcase. Update: this project is included in Dezeen Book of Ideas, which is on sale now for £12.
Called REK, the bookcase consists of five parts, which slide out to accommodate books in the resulting voids as the user accumulates them.
“REK is a bookcase that grows with your book collection. The more books, the bigger the bookcase,” explains de Jong.
The following information is from the designer:
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The zigzag shaped parts slide in and out of each other, providing as much space as needed. With REK there will be no silly sights of half an empty bookcase anymore because REK will always be full. Also with the different spaces that appear you can arrange your books according to their size.
The outside of REK is finished with white high gloss laminate. The inside is finished with another type of laminate, in this case warm grey satin.
design: Reinier de Jong
execution: Bom Interieurs
To analyse the quality of a design product we must study use value
( utility ) and exchange value…
With democratic design the exchange value is always low, so the last design trend was to create not a design product but a piece near art in limited edition, sometimes a prototype ,unusefull , nice and pricy.Dutch design was leading in this trend.
Now we are in a deep financial and economic crise and also in an eco trend , designers will design again things simple, innovative ,democratic with great use value,… Here the designer increases his visibility with a design between product and piece of design art.
O_O WANT
I’d put computer games in it instead of books ;)
good idea . important thing it is useful one
This is a beautiful bookcase to buy…. if you like to try to impress people with books you have not read. The sheer cost of this magnificent specimen of art brings to mind one word — opulence. This bookshelf is about showing off.
To Mr. Reinier, amazing work sir — your design is beautiful. To any consumer who purchases this case, don’t wast your money, buy a less pomp bookcase, and donate that disposable income of yours to a youth club — those kids need things like socks, toothpaste, and a reminder that people care about them.
Bookcase for internet nerd who doesn’t like and doesn’t have books
you don’t have to dust the shelves you don’t use. but yeah, i don’t dust my hard-drive very often…
Very neat! I can see this as a perfect choice for any major metro area dweller. Now price on the other hand….
@tiffany – touche!
Innovative, fun and somewhat attractive.
How can it slide easily when loaded? does it have wheels or other sliding system under it to allow this?
El Chakal.
Looks cool, love it! But not practical at all. There are many little spaces that open up when the book cases and a bit a part and where dust gets into. Then it becomes difficult to dust these bits off).
Another problem is that the shelves would look very ugly if there were a few books here and there but not in all 5 shelves. If you don’t see what I’m talking about, imagine having three shelves nested closely and another two shelves father apart. Would that look good? I don’t think so…
Also, a question: is there something to help separate the shelves? If not, it’s going to be hard doing it.
Some nice dutch creativity. :)
very cool concept :)
i want that. such a great creativity.. :)
nice design & concept!
It may look good but when I design bookcases I make sure that I can move shelves up and down to make the best use of the space and adapt to book sizes.
Nice to look at but ….
wow!!! it’s really interesting and unique.
Nice DESIGN and very cool concept
Awesome! Cool places for small things too.
Stumbled, thanks! This bookshelf would have been great while I was moving from apartment to apartment in my 20′s.
So cool!!
I want one, where can I find it? ( and how much it is? )
very cool, it has a nice modern type feel to it, I want one!
Super design, simplicity in its most complex way.
Fantastic piece of design, innovative, and sustainable too!
This would be also be so cool if it had different woods per piece. That would make it so modern with a nod to traditional materials. Although, art is always best in it’s original design, especially functional pieces.
Its quite convenient to have these in your house. You can have multiple uses for such piece of art. Book shelf, wall unit etc. Wonder who thinks about making such stuff
Wow… it seems like I'm posting here a bit late, but I just happened upon this page searching for modern furniture ideas and this is simply stunning! Such a simple, yet incredibly efficient design… I can't believe I hadn't thought of it! Also, @Chris: hahaha! Funny comment!
But for people like me, who actually do have a large collection of books, this is an awesome solution… especially for people like me, who never seems to stay in one place for more than a year lease. With a bookshelf like this, I can display and organize all of my books in my living room… and when it's time to move, I can easily fold this bookshelf up into itself for easy transportation! No more bulky bookshelves!
Simply brilliant.
how do they prevent it from being pulled apart?
Wow!!! The picture is impressing!!! Would fit nice it my 5 x 7 guest room!!!