Konstantin Grcic has created a range of metal cabinets and drawers for Magis, using manufacturing techniques he observed at a steel factory in northern Italy.
The German designer's Chess collection, created for Italian brand Magis, will be unveiled during Milan design week, which officially kicks off next week.

When designing the collection, Grcic travelled to Vincenza in north-east Italy to visit the factory of Fami – a steel manufacturer that makes storage systems for industrial and warehouse use.

Having seen the products produced, he wanted to reimagine these large industrial objects into furniture fit for use in a home environment.

"Through a series of small adjustments we tried to change the destination of use for these objects – transforming them from industrial objects into products which could well fit a domestic and contract environment," Grcic told Dezeen.

"We weren't able to change any of the sizes they make but we carefully selected those sizes that would be fitting for the domestic environment. We wanted to take these steel cabinets that were made for factories and workshops into the domestic environment," he added.

The collection includes steel cabinets in varying lengths and sizes. Each individual piece is available with either a drawer or a sliding door and comes in a dark red or white colour.

The cabinets can be used as one singular component, or as a module within a larger arrangement of storage units. All come equipped with oak handles.

"The wooden handles have become a strong design element because they create an impact on what these pieces of furniture are now – they're in contrast to the rest," added Grcic.

"Painting the industrial cabinets in a different colour would be the easiest way to change the character of this piece of furniture," he added.  "The dark red is subtle and can be easily integrated into whatever other colours in its environment, whereas the white is a bright white that is a neutral, light colour but more of a statement."

The German designer set up his studio in Munich in 1991 after studying design at the Royal College of Art in London. Previous projects he has worked on include a subway-inspired sofa for Cassina and a straight-legged chair for Mattiazzi.

Magis, which was founded in 1976, has previously collaborated with Grcic on a cast iron sofa inspired by machinery parts and a chair with a backrest like a pool noodle.

The Chess collection during this year's Milan design week, at a dedicated location in the city's Brera district at Via Gaspare Rosales 5.

Elsewhere in the city, Robert Stadler will present 200 objects from Vitra's archive in a huge installation at La Pelota, while trend forecaster Li Edelkoort will collaborate with Google to explore how digital devices can be more sensorial.