AF System shelf
CLIENT : Format
CATEGORY : Furniture
COMPLETION OF PROJECT : 2024
PROJECT TEAM : HYUNSOO CHOI
This project presents a collection of system furniture, lighting, and interior objects developed in collaboration with FORMAT, a brand of Sungji Steel specializing in formwork hardware for concrete construction.
The project begins with formwork hardware that has completed its original role on construction sites. Rather than being discarded, these components are reinterpreted through an upcycling process that preserves the structural logic and material qualities of the original hardware while assigning new functions for everyday use. Surface traces and the industrial character embedded in the material serve as key starting points for the design.
The third product in the collection is a system shelving unit. Standardized formwork components are disassembled, cut, and reassembled to form a modular system furniture piece. Drawing inspiration from the repetitive assembly and disassembly process of aluminum formwork used on construction sites, the design centers on a vertical rail structure, which serves as the core structural element of the shelving system. The shelf rails, derived from the original assembly logic of the formwork, along with newly developed brackets that anchor the system to the wall and floor, ensure both structural stability and visual clarity.
Rather than functioning as a fixed piece of furniture, the shelving system is designed to expand and be reconfigured according to changes in space and user needs. Components originally engineered for functional efficiency in industrial contexts are transformed into elements for everyday storage and display, while the rigid metal structure introduces a sense of order and calm within the space.
This project demonstrates how industrial materials can be given new context and function through design after reaching the end of their original lifecycle. Extended from construction sites into domestic environments, the collection quietly articulates the sustainable potential of upcycling and the role of design in prolonging the value of materials.
Rather than functioning as a fixed piece of furniture, the shelving system is designed to expand and be reconfigured according to changes in space and user needs. Components originally engineered for functional efficiency in industrial contexts are transformed into elements for everyday storage and display, while the rigid metal structure introduces a sense of order and calm within the space.
This project demonstrates how industrial materials can be given new context and function through design after reaching the end of their original lifecycle. Extended from construction sites into domestic environments, the collection quietly articulates the sustainable potential of upcycling and the role of design in prolonging the value of materials.
