“SHELF” selected for the ADI Design Index 2018

The innovation and versatility of an original design product

It’s not always easy to activate creative collaborations able to come up with truly innovative projects, but Ceramiche Coem and the designer Paolo Benevelli have succeeded with SHELF, a design product that’s both functional and simple. In recognition of its value and unique nature, the ADI Design Permanent Observatory has decided to include it in its prestigious publication on the ADI Design Index 2018, which was presented with an exhibition of selected products in Milan, at the Leonardo da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology, on 15 October, and in Rome, at Acquario Romano – Casa dell’Architettura, on 20 November 2018. This important result is in itself a major success for a company like Ceramiche Coem, which has always placed the accent on creativity and process innovation as hallmark elements of the brand.

SHELF: modular and functional

Shelf really is something new on the ceramics and design scene, conceived as an element of process innovation able to turn a ceramic covering material into resistant, modular shelving. With the Shelf project, tiles move beyond their traditional function as a simple covering material and also become a supporting element, bringing a new, dual application to a material that has always been conceived, viewed and used solely as a finish. Full-body porcelain stoneware is processed to obtain an L-shaped element. These elements can then be combined to create endless different shelving solutions, including original bookcases, wall shelves, display surfaces and supporting elements, able to bring a distinctive touch of style to settings.

Paolo Benevelli and Ceramiche Coem, united in innovation

The Shelf project, which revolutionises the relationship between ceramics and interior design, is the fruit of the creativity of Paolo Benevelli, who, thanks to Ceramiche Coem, has been able to use ceramics to create a truly modular system, a sort of micro-architecture that defines new geometries in the ceramic dimension. Since 1992, designer Paolo Benevelli has been engaged in the development of design objects, industrial design and interiors, moving in the direction of a highly contemporary, personal, recognisable, communicative style. Always original and eclectic, his work has frequently been published in the most important magazines in the sector, such as Domus, Interni, Area, Ottagono, CasaD, and Compasses. His creativity has certainly not gone unnoticed among the experts, and in 2016 he received the ADI Design Index’s Compasso d’Oro Award for the “Eolique” lamp.

Shelf won the ADI Ceramics & Bathroom Design Award in 2017

In 2017, the SHELF project received the special ADI Ceramics & Bathroom Design Award, created by ADI (Industrial Design Association) in collaboration with Cersaie to draw attention to the most innovative products in the Italian ceramic sector among those on display at the Exhibition. Ceramiche Coem and Paolo Benevelli’s Shelf project won the award in the “ceramics” category, for “a process innovation that turns a ceramic covering material into high—performance shelving that can be adapted to various products made by the company.”

An extremely versatile design element, with a minimal, elegant appeal, which has immediately earned a place on the interior design scene as a permanent innovative feature.

The Compasso d’oro and its history

The ADI Design Index 2018, to which SHELF has been added, is the first volume of a two-year cycle that brings together the products on the short list for the Compasso d’Oro ADI 2020 Award. The ADI’s Compasso d’Oro is the oldest and most important design award, devised in 1954 by Gio Ponti for the Rinascente department store in Milan with the aim of promoting the then-nascent Italian design scene. In 1958, it came under the aegis of ADI (Industrial Design Association), which since then has organised and protected the award. Almost 300 projects have received awards over the last 50 years, and almost 2000 have been selected for an Honourable Mention. All the works are brought together in the Historical Collection of the ADI Compasso d’Oro Award, managed by the ADI Foundation.

Discover all the versatility of Shelf at coem.it

Shelf is undoubtedly an original project that offers a great deal of scope for creativity on the part of architects and designers, offering the chance to come up with a huge variety of modern, elegant solutions. We couldn’t agree more with the designer Paolo Benevelli, who describes shelf as “a project that brings a whole new approach to using ceramics, allowing for a multitude of different combinations”.
Take a walk through the world of SHELF by visiting www.coem.it/en/solutions-for-architecture/shelf/.