Balancing on the edge of precision and poetry, the Philae bookshelf by Raphael Kadid redefines what shelving can mean.
Inspired by architectural structures yet imbued with a handcrafted sensibility, Philae is a minimalist creation that feels both industrial and artisanal. It challenges conventions, merging the sharp rigor of CNC machining with the delicate unpredictability of hand-applied finishes.
The concept is as daring as it is simple: a bookshelf imagined as a tower of cards. Two thin sheets of aluminum meet at precise angles, forming triangulated geometries that ensure stability through repetition. Each unit becomes a foundational module, multiplied to create a structure that is both sturdy and ethereal. The resemblance to a card tower isn’t just visual but structural—a principle borrowed from architecture and scaled down to domestic proportions. Philae stands as an homage to balance, a dance between weight and lightness.
The project was born within the framework of Raw Senses, an initiative dedicated to pushing the boundaries of contemporary design. Collaborating with BWB Surface Technology, a Swiss specialist in electrolytic surface treatments, Kadid crafted a bookshelf that speaks in textures and tones. Each 2mm aluminum panel was hand-anodised at BWB’s facilities, a process that departs from standard industrial treatments. Here, dyes are brushed onto wet aluminum, spreading unevenly like watercolor on paper. The result? Surfaces alive with depth and organic patterns, reminiscent of aerial landscapes—a nod to nature’s topography and aluminum’s mineral origins.
Kadid draws parallels between the anodising process and the photography of Kevin Krautgartner, whose aerial shots of bauxite mines—the raw material for aluminum—capture the interplay of human intervention and natural beauty. The shelf’s textures, subtle and layered, echo these abstract landscapes, turning an object of function into one of contemplation.
Beyond its aesthetic allure, Philae’s design philosophy is rooted in sustainability. The shelf is entirely recyclable, its aluminum components free from paints or plastics that complicate reuse. Its modular construction allows for easy assembly and disassembly, underscoring Kadid’s belief in creating objects meant to last a lifetime. This ethos of durability extends beyond materials to the very experience of owning the piece—Philae invites interaction, movement, and adaptation.
For Kadid, the process was as much about exploration as execution. “Hand-anodising is like analogue photography,” he notes. “You guide it, but you can’t fully control the result.” This embrace of imperfection lends Philae its distinctive character, turning a utilitarian object into a canvas for creative expression.
