Vintage Dieter Rams (b.1932) Vitsoe '606 Universal' Modular Shelving System

Vitsœ Shelving System

Designed by Dieter Rams, 1960

This is an original Vitsœ shelving system, designed in 1960 by Dieter Rams. Precise, modular and quietly rigorous, it is one of the clearest expressions of Rams’ approach to long-life design: adaptable, repairable, and intended to evolve with use.

This particular set was removed from a larger installation at an architectural firm. We acquired a substantial batch of Vitsœ at auction and have integrated part of the system into our own in-house upholstery workshop here at A Fold of Chairs. This listing comprises elements from the remaining system.

The shelving shows minor scratches and small knocks, consistent with age and professional use. These marks are cosmetic only and sit comfortably with the ethos of the design. The system is fully functional and can be viewed in store.

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Measurements
    •    Uprights: 171 cm height
    •    Shelves (4 total): 91 cm width × 25 cm depth

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About the design

The Vitsœ shelving system is built around wall-mounted aluminium uprights with adjustable components. Its strength lies in its logic rather than ornament: shelves can be reconfigured, added to, or repurposed as needs change. This is furniture designed to support work and life quietly in the background.

Remarkably, the system has remained in continuous production for over sixty years, largely unchanged, a testament to the clarity of the original design.

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About Vitsœ

Vitsœ was founded in 1959 and is defined by its commitment to long-term thinking. Producing a small range of designs by Dieter Rams, the company supports systems decades after purchase with replacement parts, reinforcing the principle of buy less, but better.

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About Dieter Rams

Dieter Rams is best known for his tenure as Head of Design at Braun and for articulating the Ten Principles for Good Design. His work prioritises clarity, honesty of materials, and usefulness above all else. The Vitsœ shelving system is a distilled example of those principles — rational, enduring, and intentionally unobtrusive.

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Condition:
Minor surface scratches and knocks consistent with age and use.

Viewing:
Available to view in store.