Componibili Recycled: Kartell re-invents a design classic / €179
After five decades, a recycled reboot proves an iconic Italian design is still as relevant as ever.
Like ‘epic’ and ‘GOAT’, ‘classic’ is one of those words that gets tossed around a lot these days. And while there’s no hard-and-fast rule for what makes a classic, anything with a track record of 50-plus years on the market is usually a pretty good candidate.
Kartell’s Componibili storage tower fits that category perfectly, having found its way into thousands of homes since making its debut way back in 1967. It was ultra-modern when it came out, and the Componibili’s clean, cheerful simplicity means it has barely aged since. Inclusion in the permanent collections of New York’s Museum of Modern Art and Paris’s Centre Pompidou confirm its timelessness.
Another chief reason for the Componibili’s longevity is its adaptability. Created by Anna Castelli Ferrieri – one of the first women to achieve international design success – its light weight, colour options and clever interlocking system make it easy to stack and configure individual elements to fit a wide range of living spaces. (Componibili means ‘modular’ in Italian.)
But being adaptable also means changing with the times, which is why Kartell also now makes the Componibili Recycled. In 1967 its use of plastics was considered pioneering, but today sees the manufacturer making moves towards greater sustainability. By recovering its own scrap and channelling it into one of its bestselling designs, the Componibili Recycled sends an important signal, while bringing smooth, matt-black and white finishes to a true design classic.
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