Glass Shelves #1 (1976)

Design

Glass Shelves #1 (1976) is all about clarity and proportion. The lines are strict, the profile is light, and the overall silhouette reads as calm even when it’s filled. It’s a bookcase that doesn’t rely on decoration or added parts to make a point. And that restraint is exactly what gives it presence.

Designed in 1976 by Shiro Kuramata, it’s widely recognized as a landmark piece in international design. But it still feels current because the idea is simple: let the structure be the look. Golden proportions guide the form, so it has an easy visual balance from any angle.

Materials & Build

The entire piece is realized in transparent glass, thermowelded in 12 mm thickness, about 0.47 inches. There are no “foreign” elements introduced to hold it together, so the construction stays visually uninterrupted. The glass specified is extralight, which keeps the transparency crisp and the edges clean.

In practice, that means the bookcase reads as one continuous object rather than a frame with panels. Joints and transitions don’t ask for attention. They simply do their job, quietly.

Everyday Use

Because the structure is clear, the focus naturally shifts to what is placed on it. Books, objects, and printed matter seem to float, and even a dense arrangement feels lighter. It’s an easy piece to live with if the goal is to keep a room from feeling heavy.

And it encourages a certain kind of editing. A few strong items look intentional. A fuller library still feels organized because the shelves don’t add extra visual noise.

Placement & Lifestyle

At approximately 65.0 inches long, 13.8 inches deep, and 77.2 inches high, it has the scale to act as an architectural element. It can define a wall without closing it off. It can also sit near windows or in brighter rooms where transparency becomes part of the atmosphere.

From glasitalia, the piece fits interiors that lean modern, but it also works in more traditional spaces that need one clean note. It doesn’t compete with color, art, or texture. It lets them breathe.

Longevity

The appeal here isn’t trend-driven, and the build supports that. Thick thermowelded glass is straightforward and resilient in daily care when treated with the usual respect for glass surfaces. There are no added components to age differently or visually interrupt the design over time.

This model is not available custom made, which keeps the concept intact as originally intended. And that’s part of its integrity: one clear idea, executed without compromise.