W.H.B” modular bookcase / wall shelf

Shelf / modular wall bookshelf “WHB” in cherry, Germany, 1970s. Fine, complete set, with cabinets with double doors as well as another with drawers.

• W 269 CM X D 40 CM X H 193 CM.
• 9 plates: p. 26 CM.
• 3 plates: p. 36 CM.
• 3 pedestals W 71 CM X D 36 CM X H 47 CM X D useful 33 CM.
• 1 pedestal W 71 CM X D 26 CM X H 70 CM X D useful 21 CM.
• Drawers P 30 CM X H 11 CM.
• In good condition, restored in our restoration workshop. Only the chest of drawers shows some fading on its top (See photos).

A wall shelving unit combining open storage and enclosed volumes

This W.H.B modular shelving belongs to the generation of German wall systems designed to exploit the full height of a wall without creating the visual mass of traditional furniture. Vertical uprights structure the composition while shelves and cabinets punctuate the whole according to need.

The simultaneous presence of open shelves, enclosed storage, and drawers makes it possible to alternate books, decorative objects, documents, and items one wishes to keep out of sight. This combination gives the piece a function far broader than a simple bookshelf: it becomes a true wall-mounted storage unit capable of organizing a large part of a living room or office.

A sober, modernist wall composition that retains great visual lightness.

W.H.B produced several modular shelving systems in Germany during the 1960s and 1970s, generally composed of metal uprights, shelves, and cabinets that could be organized according to the desired configuration. This principle of evolving furniture is found more broadly in postwar European design, notably with String shelves in Sweden or the wall systems of Poul Cadovius in Denmark.

Without being identical in their conception, these pieces share the same idea: free the floor, exploit the wall surface, and allow the arrangement to evolve with use. This is precisely what explains the longevity of this type of shelving in contemporary interiors.

Large storage capacity without weighing down the room

At nearly 2.70 meters wide, this composition makes it possible to dress an entire wall section while maintaining an impression of lightness thanks to the spaces left open between elements. In a living room, it can accommodate books, ceramics, sculptures, frames, or personal objects, while the enclosed cabinets serve for everyday storage.

In an office, the different shelf depths make it possible to organize documents, books, and work accessories without multiplying independent pieces of furniture. A table lamp placed on one of the cabinets can also create a more intimate light source and reinforce the decorative function of the whole.

The small floor footprint of this type of wall system leaves greater freedom to organize the rest of the room around a pair of armchairs, a sofa, or a coffee table.

Other current furnishing solutions

Contained proportions and a small footprint preserve the sense of available space.

This W.H.B shelving is now sold, but storage can also be more discreet. A low sideboard with sober lines and contained proportions offers a particularly easy-to-integrate alternative. Its low height frees the gaze, leaves more wall visible, and visually lightens the room. Almost effaced in the space, it nevertheless retains an appreciable storage capacity while giving the volumes a more open and generous feel.

Low or standard-height Omann Jun sideboards, used together or separately, offer storage solutions with sober lines, easy to integrate and visually unobtrusive.