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Even among Scandinavian design classics we find changing fashions and fads. Pieces of furniture that have been forgotten will suddenly become the latest “new” discovery. A Classic situation!
The latest example of this is the designs of Poul Cadovius. He was a charismatic inventor, who played a key role in the successful branding of Danish design in the 1950s and ’60s. Today he is almost forgotten, and had it not been for the enthusiasm and know-how of furniture manufacturer dk3, who has decided to relaunch some of the spectacular designs, he might well have been consigned to history.
The most famous of Cadovius’ designs is Royal System, a shelving system that proved revolutionary when it was originally introduced to the market in 1948. At this point in Western furniture history, much heavier and bulky furniture dominated the market. As a result, rooms would often feel cramped and overstuffed, and this increased as consumerism commenced and people started collecting more and more possessions.
Royal System was thus unlike anything previously known to the furniture market. It is a wall-hung shelving system presenting the opportunity of individual assembly. This means that it can be shaped and styled according to individual needs and taste. The innovative conceptual idea behind Royal System was, that it would take up as little floor space as possible. Or expressed by Poul Cadovius himself, “The majority of us live at the bottom of a cube. Adding the walls to the plan of the floor, will give us a lot of space to live in.”
But obviously there seemed to be a lot of scepticism towards hanging furniture on the walls. Would it last and would it be stable enough? In his usual impulsive and energetic manner, Poul Cadovius put to rest to these questions, when at a press show he placed his own 82 kg body onto a shelf – which naturally stayed in place. No shaking or cracks.
This is only one of the many stories about Poul Cadovius’ charismatic personality. Cadovius seemed to be driven by an inner strength and insatiable curiosity. He kept challenging the conventions, and luckily this resulted in objects of great beauty and strength that we still enjoy to this day. Furniture that seems to last in both quality of materials and the design, making it fit well into a contemporary lifestyle. The system has since inspired many architects and designers, but Royal System is the original wall-hung shelving system.
So, it comes as no surprise that it would see a revival, after having been almost forgotten for a couple of decades. In 2010 the young Danish furniture manufacturer dk3 obtained the rights to relaunch this beautiful timeless design classic. The materials have been slightly updated to match contemporary interiors and lifestyle, meaning the timber options are now either walnut or oak, and with the addition of a brand new material, white compact laminate with a black core.
Jacob Plejdrup, owner of dk3 explains, “Compact laminate is extremely durable and stays true to form, making it an excellent choice for both the private and commercial market. We believe that there will be a lot of renewed interest in Royal System, both due to the product’s distinguished history, but also because of its ability to provide individuality in our interiors. And not least due to it being a product of genuine quality.”
The new edition of Royal System stays true to the original conceptual idea of a system that can be assembled according to individual taste, needs and creativity. This means it can be a conventional bookcase, a modern writing desk, or a library with different cabinet modules. Its flexibility and space saving design provides endless possibilities in creating the personal contemporary expression.
by Runa Matheisen