Pair of bookshelves. BD BARCELONA DESIGN

Pair of bookshelves with built-in lighting. BD BARCELONA DESIGN, 1990s.
Wood and black-lacquered metal.
In good condition, with slight signs of wear.
Measurements of each: 176 x 20 x 20 cm; base: 30 x 30 cm.

The combination of storage and lighting in a structure with a strong vertical presence and minimal floor space gives these pieces a distinctively functional and architectural character. Given their proportions and the succession of regular compartments, they appear to have been designed specifically for storing compact discs, a format that saw particular growth during the 1990s. The upper metal section incorporates the light source and simultaneously serves as a geometric crown, creating a striking hallmark of contrast with the warmth of the wood.

This interest in developing new solutions for home furnishings is consistent with BD’s track record; during those years, the firm also produced furniture designed for CDs. In 1995, for example, the firm released the Coffrage unit by Pierre Bouvier and Philippe Meyer, designed specifically for this format.

BD was founded in Barcelona in 1972 by architects and designers associated with Studio PER—Pep Bonet, Cristian Cirici, Lluís Clotet, Oscar Tusquets, and Mireia Riera—with the aim of producing furniture and objects based on approaches that diverged from conventional production methods. From its earliest decades, it combined reissues of works by historical masters with designs by contemporary creators and established itself as one of the key publishers driving the renewal of Spanish design. It received the National Design Award in 1989 and the European Community Design Prize in 1990. After its brief beginnings as Bocaccio Design, the firm adopted the name BD Ediciones de Diseño, which it retained until it was renamed BD Barcelona Design in 2007.