Transformer-shelf
Martin Sämmer
Space saving furniture has shot into popularity in recent years and Martin Sämmer's Transformer-shelf is a good example of a product that not only addresses the issue of clutter within twenty-first century living, but also deals with the confines of the domestic environment.
Consisting of several moveable sections, the system has the ability to adapt to suit storage and shelving needs. By pushing on the compartments the Transformer-shelf can grow to fill a space, or alternatively, absorb its compartments to return to a solid block.
Combing simple aesthetics with complexity of function, Sämmer's piece seems to perfectly echo the Theo Jansen quote displayed front and centre on his homepage, “The Walls between art and engineering exist only in our minds."
Indeed it would seem even these walls are for Sämmer's disposal.
Transformer-shelf by Martin Sämmer. Photo by Oliver Wrobel
Transformer-shelf by Martin Sämmer. Photo by Oliver Wrobel