Although this article is about bookcases, I'd like to get this out of the way first and foremost; lots of people still read. It's a fantastic way to spend your time and you can invariably gain the shared wisdom of the great minds before us. Standing on the shoulders of giants springs to mind. Alternatively you can just zone out and read a book purely for the emotional stimulus. As long as it's interesting, it's good to read, that's my rule. But again, that's not the point of the article.
Bookcases were once built to hold, store and display books, nothing more, nothing less. With today's contemporary design and the rapid increase in technology as well as the fusion of fashion and function, bookcases are becoming bolder and more stylish. They achieve now what multiple sets of shelves used to. In fact they are beginning to overtake shelves, TV stands and end tables as a place to 'put something' and are becoming more like murals than storage.
A couple of great examples are the Jigsaw and Pombol bookcases by Portuguese furniture designer Tema Home'. Tema have managed to find the perfect synergy of practicality and aesthetics with their creations. The construction is easily equal to the top Italian designers. Not only are there areas for books, there are sections for your television, other set top boxes and a multitude of decorative ornaments. Of course you can put things wherever you like and there aren't any 'designated' spots, but the display models I've seen do a fantastic job of demonstrating their versatility.
A bookcase is no longer a discreet element that sits in the corner or on a secondary wall somewhere. They can be magnificent structures that establish a real presence in the room. Of course it doesn't have to break from tradition the way I may seem to be suggesting. I think we've all at one point or another had our breath taken away by an incredible collection of text volumes; books containing some of the most valuable information of our time and of the past. Think of the Great Library of Alexandria... or various scenes from Harry Potter. In more humble settings, a grand bookcase filled with encyclopaedias and classical works is really quite something to behold. As decoration or as a display of your learning, capability and achievement, bookcases remain quite relevant even in today's minimalist settings.
As with many of the most reputable European designers of today, these kinds of bookcases are built to be part of a collection. Although it's easily possible to use modern bookcases for just about any living room function (an entertainment centre, decorative shelving, CD and DVD rack, a place to put your coffee mug etc.), designers seem to be keeping the traditional function in mind by creating individual furniture pieces (such as coffee tables and sideboards) to compliment the bookcases whilst being perhaps a little more suited for certain tasks (e.g. a plate of biscuits).
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