“Rombe is about Sculptural Utility – the ability for storage to behave as a system, while also contributing to an eclectic aesthetic,” Sam Hecht, Industrial Facility, comments.
A modular shelving system with sculptural utility at its core, Rombe by Industrial Facility, designed for &Tradition, provides a quiet canvas for the things we choose to live with and around.
Designed to house and display favourite objects, often reached for books, or to create an intuitive space for working, Rombe is mouldable to unique needs due to its prioritisation of flexibility, supported by uncompromised strength. Transcending traditional shelving systems, Rombe seamlessly integrates efficiency and optimisation with beauty and intelligence. Its design philosophy acknowledges the ever-evolving role of modern shelving and how it changes as people and times do.
Wanting to further expand its product offering, Rombe is the first kind in its typology for &Tradition. A multifaceted addition to the collection, the company sought the expertise of the London-based studio for its reputable and incomparable level of technical skill.
Kim Colin, Industrial Facility, adds, “Rombe speaks to the spirit of what we enjoy about &Tradition – a bridge between old and new, where furniture, and how we live with it, is deliberately left open to interpretation.”
The name Rombe was inspired by the shape seen in the vertical brackets that run parallel in the design, before pivoting laterally and fixing to the wall. The subtle rhombus was in fact not a conscious design decision, but one that presented itself to its creators organically, due to the shape’s innately robust proportions and load-bearing ability.
The biggest challenge, note Hecht and Colin, was to keeping Rombe’s system potential uncomplicated and controlled. Totalling 11 options, Industrial Facility worked with &Tradition to design a selection of core configurations to simplify the decision-making process. To begin with, Rombe can be chosen in a single, double or triple bay variant. From there, varying shelving, desk or cabinet assemblies are offered. The system is also expandable, developed so that additional bays may be added to existing ones seamlessly, if desired at a later date.
A non-negotiable feature for Hecht and Colin, Rombe is attached to the wall at just four points to preserve the interior architecture as effectively as possible. Two of these points sit at the very top of the design in the wall bracket, while the other two are found in the centre of the upright bracket, discreetly located behind one of the attachment types. The shelving, desk and cabinet each anchor to the upright brackets, allowing for a distance to be left between them and the wall’s surface. This not only results in a system that minimally disrupts its surroundings but also allows for cables to run freely behind for an uncluttered aesthetic.
A further detail with deep consideration is its adaptability to the unique quirks of individual spaces. During the installation process, Rombe’s distance from the wall can be adjusted to ensure a straight line is kept if viewed from its side profile – a feature that becomes particularly useful when multiple bays are added, and width discrepancies may be exacerbated.
Rombe can also be adjusted at the feet to meet uneven floorboards. This is done with a few turns of the Allen-key that arrives with the design, which also has its own special in-built storage compartment concealed within the upright bracket. These features combined not only make for easy installation and adjustment but also allow Rombe to be deconstructed and then reconstructed in different rooms or even buildings, should customers move home or workspaces.
Chosen for their ability to best perform for the task at hand, Rombe’s components are made from a variety of materials. Forming the backbone of the design while also providing its structural integrity, the extruded aluminium upright brackets house the varying fixture points for the inserts in a completely concealed manner. The shelving and the desk can then be chosen in a lacquered oak or walnut veneer. The cabinet is also available in oak or walnut and features a reeded glass sliding door, which provides a level of obscurity and allows space to hide away items that should be concealed.
Rombe can be chosen in two finishes: Alabaster or Anthracite. If chosen in Alabaster, the shelves will also come in Alabaster, and the cabinet or desk in lacquered oak veneer. Similarly, if chosen in Anthracite, the shelves will come in Anthracite and the cabinet or desk in lacquered walnut veneer.
Impact
All wood-based boards in Rombe use FSC® certified wood and recycled materials, supporting responsible management of the world’s forests, as well as being finished with water-based lacquer which is safer for indoor air quality. In line with circular design practices, Rombe is designed for disassembly, facilitating repair and responsible recycling at its end-of-life. Its structure uses aluminium, a lightweight, durable and highly recyclable metal, able to be repurposed in another production cycle. The cardboard used in packaging is also FSC® certified.
