String dark grey
The Swedish String System shelves are an icon of Scandinavian design, created in 1949 by the Swedish architect and designer Nils Strinning, in collaboration with his wife Kajsa Strinning.
The Swedish String System shelves are an icon of Scandinavian design, created in 1949 by the Swedish architect and designer Nils Strinning, in collaboration with his wife Kajsa Strinning. This modular storage system was the result of a competition organised by the Bonnier publishing house, which was looking for an affordable, practical and easy-to-assemble bookcase to encourage Swedes to buy more books after the Second World War. Nils Strinning won the competition with a simple but revolutionary idea: ladder-shaped steel wire uprights, onto which wooden shelves are attached, all lightweight, flat-packed and easy to assemble.
Main characteristics
The String System is characterised by its minimalism, unlimited modularity and timeless design. Its strengths are as follows:
Structure: The uprights, available in wall-mounted or floor-standing versions, are generally made of lacquered metal (or Plexiglas for the String Plex model). The shelves, boxes and accessories can be easily attached without complex tools.
Flexibility: You can customise the system by choosing the height, width (58 or 78 cm), depth (20 or 30 cm), materials (wood such as oak, ash or walnut, or metal) and colours (from classic white to modern shades).
Versatile use: Initially designed for books, it adapts to all rooms – living room, kitchen, office, bedroom, even outside with galvanised versions – thanks to a range of accessories such as drawers, magazine racks, hooks or worktops.
A success story
From the moment it was launched, the String System was a runaway success. It was used in Swedish homes, but also in prestigious locations such as the UN offices in New York in the 1950s. Awarded prizes, including the gold medal at the Milan Triennale in 1954, it became a symbol of Scandinavian functional design. After a decline in the 1980s, the String Furniture brand, relaunched in 2004, has revived this classic, enriching the range with new products such as the String Pocket (a compact version) and collaborations with contemporary designers.
Why does it still work today?
Refined aesthetics: Its simple lines fit in everywhere, from modern interiors to more traditional settings.
Durability: Made in Sweden with quality materials, the system is robust (15-20 kg per shelf depending on size) and designed to last.
Adaptability: You can develop it over time by adding elements, which makes it relevant to our current lifestyles where space is often limited.
In short, the String System is more than a shelf: it is a storage solution that combines practicality and elegance, while carrying on the legacy of Swedish design.