“I have always desired to do the opposite. Not because I have an anarchic behaviour. But because I think the fundamental basis of design consists in thinking the opposite” - Achille Castiglioni

Italian designer Achille Castiglioni had a passion for re-designing, re-inventing and re-conceptualising. Traditional interior design objects would pass through his Milan based studio and end up perfected. He always aimed at enhancing and glorifying the value of the design.

One of the many wonderful examples of his approach is Libreria Pensile, a hanging wire bookcase originally designed in 1957, but refined for many years until it was finally released for production in 1966. Karakter have acquired the licence to produce this classic design. 50 years after it was launched it is still relevant, elegant, and very Castiglioni.

Seeking to reduce the structure of a bookcase to its absolute minimum Castiglioni opted for vertical wires suspended from a single point on the wall.

The 1966 version consisted of four birch boards, faced with natural phenolic laminate, supported by two slender cables joined at the point of attachment – a satin-finish brass plate anchored to the wall. This has been changed to reflect modern developments in materials and manufacturing techniques so that now the shelves are supplied in either black stained solid ash or lacquered oak veneer, with black lacquered steel wall mount.

• W.105 x D.30 x H.150 cm.

Max Weight:
Once the shelves are filled, the bookcase is freed from the need for further wall attachments and when firmly mounted in a solid wall it can carry 90 kilo – 30 kilo on each of the three shelves. Please note it is very important your walls must also be strong enough to support this weight.