606 Universal Shelving System™™

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Vitsœ was founded back in 1959 with the simple, common-sense notion of designing down-to-earth furniture that could be used for as long as possible.

The idea was that discreet, adaptable and faithful furniture would encourage customers to start by buying a small amount and then adding to it as their lives developed.

Better still, those customers would take it with them when they moved, rearranging it as necessary. Before long it was clear that customers’ evident satisfaction was derived from their ability to live better, with less, that was lasting longer.

Today that company is increasingly seen as an exemplar and has been used as a subject in recent case studies for good design, innovation, customer service, and sustainability.

Which is reassuring because Vitsœ continues to deploy an unfashionable business tool: common sense.

The power of good design

In the man-made world, everything has been designed. Everything. Somewhere, somehow, the idea has taken hold that only certain objects have been ‘designed’. At Vitsœ we stand for the inordinate power of good design in everything we do: designing thoughtfully, responsibly and intelligently for our company, our furniture and the many people who share a profound interest in all of our tomorrows.

For over 50 years, Vitsœ’s furniture has been designed by Dieter Rams. Today he continues to oversee his brainchild, working closely with Vitsœ’s managing director, Mark Adams, as the furniture is evolved and new markets are developed.

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606 Universal Shelving System

Designed by Dieter Rams in 1960, the 606 Universal Shelving System was conceived to be timeless. You can add a single shelf to a system bought decades ago and take it with you when you move.

At the core of the shelving system is the aluminium E-Track that can be attached directly to the wall. Shelves, cabinets and tables are hung from the E-Track – using no tools – by simply slipping the notched aluminium pins into place.

The interchangeability of the components encourages either day-to-day rearrangements or complete reconfigurations.

Wall mounted You can attach E-Tracks directly to your wall in any combination of the two bays, shown above. The system can be attached to almost all types of wall. Please ask us for advice.

Compressed If you have no wall nearby, the E-Track may be attached to one or both sides of the X-Post and compressed between the floor and ceiling. We can give you advice regarding acceptable ceiling heights, loadings etc.

Semi-wall mounted If your wall is obstructed or slightly uneven, the E-Track may be attached to an X-Post and stood in front of the wall, held upright by adjustable wall brackets.

See how the system works at vitsoe.com/how

Narrow bay

66.7cm (26¼")

Wide bay

91.2cm (35 ")7 8

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Five reasons

Over the years there is one comment we have heard more than any other from our customers: “I wish I had bought from you sooner.” As we do not like regret, we give you the first of five reasons not to suffer.

An ingenious kit of parts

While “kit” and “parts” need not get any of us excited, there are virtues to behaving like Meccano or Lego. As you will remember, you were able to create all manner of inventions from whichever set of building blocks that took your fancy.

Now, as a grown-up, you can arm yourself with tracks, shelves, cabinets and tables to solve different problems in your kitchen, study or library – using the same parts. And because of this adaptability, you will never leave Vitsœ behind when you move.

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Looking handsome inthe handsome city ofNew York.

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“I still can’t quite get my head round how something can travel 3470 miles, from your warehouse in London to my apartment in New York, in such a short time! Marvelous! Thanks so much.”From a graphic designer who took his shelves to New York.

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Start small

How often have you bought something with that slight nag that either the product or the company will not be around in a few years? Vitsœ – and our shelves – have been around for over 50 years. We do one thing and we try to do it well.

So, you do not need to raid the bank on day one. Start by buying only what you feel comfortable to buy. Whether you need one more shelf in 20 years’ time, or to double your system next year, we will be here for you. Just order less now.

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Built by the Huguenots of 1783 to receive the tender loving care of new owners in 21st-century south London. Charming.

Reason two

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The simple trick of separating the wall-mounted E-Tracks allows both the cabinets (behind the table) and the shelves to float.

Short on space? Even a staircase can be used despite the change in depth of this wall. Solution.

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Learn more about the shelves at vitsoe.com/how

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A shelving system is not only for books. Whether you need to sculpt your hair, pamper your skin or clothe your body, here are some ways to achieve it.

“A flawless product matched by flawless services. What more can I say?”From the senior partner of a large architectural practice.

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A customer who has been buying from Vitsœ for some time. Note the 25-year-old beech cabinet next to the new integrated table with Braun’s 1962 RT 20 radio. Tracks of varying length accommodate the awkward space. Wiring tucked under the table. Look carefully and you will see the wall-mounted system become a compressed system. Clever.

Built to last

Most of the furniture we have ever made is still in use. How do we know? Because we see it at our loyal customers’ homes and offices time and again.

Sure, on day one you might be able to spend less money than at Vitsœ. But once you realise that our shelving system is genuinely built to last you quickly appreciate that it might be considered… er…cheap.

Reason three

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The undisputed harmony of modest parental architecture that led to Pompidou in Paris, Lloyd’s in London… and beyond.

“I have been raving about the Vitsœ service and product to anyone who will listen. I have always been a little fanatical about service quality and have never come across a firm that is so joined up on service from the website to the consulting and drawings through to the delivery and installation.”From a director of investor relations.

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Drawers on trackson a wall. Bedroom,living room oroffice sideboard?It’s hard to tell.

“Very well packaged and the spirit levels are a lovely touch – bordering on genius.”From a curious web developer.

See the cabinets in action at vitsoe.com/how

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A design classic

“Design classic” and the adjective “designer” are over-used. But our shelving system is the work of Dieter Rams. He was head of design at Braun from 1961 to 1995 and many of his team’s products have found their way into the collections of the world’s finest museums.

Today he is often cited as the man who created a gentler world – a world to which many people now aspire. We are proud of him and his work – and we are delighted that many respected commentators regard our self-effacing shelving system as a design classic.

Occasionally a design classic has to make an appearance in a museum – here at London’s Design Museum for an exhibition of Dieter Rams’s work.

Reason four

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A long-living academic institution uses furniture that can be added to and rearranged at any point in the future. Obviously.

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“The service you provided was exceptional – very easy to use and all went according to time, budget and specification!”From a busy architectural team leader.

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“Our happiest customers are those who have dealt with Vitsœ the longest.”

So said Niels Vitsœ (1913-1995). He was a charming man whose modesty was only equalled by that of his furniture. But he knew that his furniture was nothing unless it was supported by outstanding service from intelligent, sympathetic human beings.

Today, in a world that too often forgets about old-fashioned service, we remember the virtues of “please” and “thank you”. We genuinely enjoy dealing with our customers whether by email, phone or face-to-face in our shops. We offer a lifetime of support.

Whether older house or newer, your shelves are equally at home. Here the DVDs allow bed-time cinema while the clothes hide in the drawers. Orderly.

Reason five

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Believe it or not, this is a bed-head. The bed is to the left behind the shelves. But the laptop can perch on this side. Multi-functional.

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“I wish every company I dealt with was as professional as Vitsœ. From the moment I first discussed the system with you through to the installation it has been simple, efficient, hassle-free and very professional.”From experts on branding and packaging.

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While we feel a duty to remind you that you can buy your first system from Vitsœ for surprisingly little money, we have to be realistic and understand that we all dream. Aspirational.

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Shops in London, New York, Tokyo and at vitsoe.com

Although our founder, Niels Vitsœ, died just as the internet was starting to take shape he would not be surprised to see that investment in both physical shops and the web is now taking Vitsœ around the world.

If you cannot visit us in London, New York or Tokyo, you can visit us at vitsoe.com and still deal personally with any one of our affable planners in whichever time-zone suits you.

Niels Vitsœ would recognise that we still insist on human beings planning your shelving system with you, even though online drawings can be refreshed in real time and you can pay, securely, online for rapid dispatch. Old-fashioned courtesy and modern technology in harmony: precisely as he would have wished.

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To work with one of our planners, go to vitsoe.com/start

New York

London

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Making it…

For more than 50 years Vitsœ has been making furniture – learning, improving and evolving so that our customers, suppliers and employees can reap the benefits.

We employ only the most talented people we can find because we know that genuine care and attention-to-detail are appreciated by our customers around the world. In addition, we have worked for decades with world-class suppliers in a spirit of genuine, mutually beneficial, partnership.

We use the best quality materials and always take decisions that will benefit everyone for the long term.

“Good enough” is not a phrase heard above the whirr of drills and chatter of screwdrivers in our workshop.

We add together the cost of people, suppliers and materials and charge our customers a price that allows Vitsœ to invest its modest profits for the long-term good of all concerned.

All high-value aluminium components are transported in wooden stillages designed and built by Vitsœ. Some are 15 years old and still going strong.

Each cabinet is meticulously built by highly-skilled cabinet-makers.

The aluminium structure is prepared individually for each order.

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Double shelfTo contain your aluminium trays and/or extend your work-surface.

Desk shelfComplete with two different depth sur faces. It may be used either way up – here for your typewriter or laptop. Other way up for monitor and keyboard.

Cabinet: up-and-over doorIdeal for higher level storage. Optional perforated back for wiring and ventilation. Internal shelves and aluminium trays available.vitsoe.com/accessories

Metal shelfFour depths for your paperbacks, CDs, art books, and much more.

Metal shelf A discreet home for your printer.

BookendNon-tip, available in two heights with non-slip base to keep everything in place.vitsoe.com/accessories

Integrated tableShallower for you to sit face-on; deeper to sit side-on.

As the system evolves, some details may differ from those shown/described

E-TrackVarious lengths. Screwed directly to the wall. Download our planning guide from vitsoe.com/how to see every component.

Sloping shelf 79°For near-upright display of large-format books and magazines. Use magnets to hold drawings in place.

Cabinet:one drawerFor suspension files (any format), bottles, toys etc. Also available with lock.

Metal shelf: flippedFlipping a shelf creates uninterrupted surfaces whilst keeping big books upright.

Metal shelfIdeal for your vinyl collection.

Shelf with drawerPut a drawer where you need it. Add drawer dividers and a pencil tray.vitsoe.com/accessories

Aluminium trayFor use in double shelves, desk shelves and cabinets with doors. On surfaces, too. With a finger hole to lift out your papers.

Cabinet:two drawersCapacious drawers especially good for clothes and larger office items. Drawer dividers available for CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray and similar.vitsoe.com/accessories

Sloping shelf 18° For display of books and magazines but often used for shoes, too. Create an entire wardrobe.

E-Track, X-Post, wall bracketSee vitsoe.com/how for detailed explanations of structures and to download our much-admired planning guide.

Cabinet:three drawersStationery, odds ‘n’ ends – even your smalls. Add drawer dividers and a pencil tray – or two. vitsoe.com/accessories

Metal shelf: rotatedThe simple act of rotating a shelf to become vertical gives you a pinboard for your magnets. Choose any one of the four shelf depths.

Cabinet:fold-down door For hiding what needs to be hidden. Optional perforated back for wiring and ventilation. Internal shelves and aluminium trays available. Lockable.vitsoe.com/accessories

Shelf with hanging railFor the wardrobe, the hall, the office or the shop (for clothes, fabric samples, etc).

Mounting panelA simple wooden panel to which you can attach your screen.

Narrow bay

66.7cm (26¼")

Wide bay

91.2cm (35 ")7 8

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Colours

Black

Black

Off-white

Off-white

Silver

Silver

Beech and blackBeech and off-white Beech and silver

Lars NittveShideh Shaygan

Chad WollenSiân Davies

Cowshed

Alistair & Odette Moncur

Sophocles Maraveyas

Design Museum, London

University of CambridgeFaculty of Divinity

Monika HaryMichael Haberbosch

Leigh & Brian Message

Stefan Beckman Pace Kaminsky

Andrew Collinge Hairdressing

Dada Rogers

Jan Kaplicky

Stuart & Maya Brisley

Thank you

Aloha Rag

Marta NarbonaToby Clark

IllustrationAirside (pp38,39)

DesignThomas Manss & Company Printed in the United Kingdom© Vitsœ 2010 All rights reserved Vitsœ is a registered trademarkvitsoe.com

PhotographyKen Kirkwood, exceptTommy Dobrzynski (opp pp1,7,14,35)Anne Brassier (p1)Ake Eson Lindman (p8)Jo Henderson (pp15,35 bottom)Luke Hayes (p23)Philip Lauterbach (p28)Geof Howe (pp36,37)

Words Mark Adams

Thank you to our customers for the generosity of their quoted comments

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