We're suckers for clever and elegant construction, so when London-based designer Sam Weller created a shelving system that relies solely on tension and friction instead of screws and nails, we took notice.
It's called Holdfast. Name sound familiar? That’s because it takes its inspiration from holdfasts, the hook-shaped objects that use only cantilevered tension to clamp down projects on a workbench. (If you're unfamiliar with woodworking, you'll find an utterly charming introduction to the devices here.) The project evolved out of a long fascination with clamps and clamping mechanisms. "They are so versatile and have all manner of applications beyond the workshop,” says Weller.
Holdfast came about after Weller spent quite a bit of time experimenting with clamps in order to create a better shelving unit on his desk. The process was about getting into the business of making quickly, sketching with the objects themselves instead of relying on pen and paper or computer modeling.
Weller wanted his design to be stackable, so the legs could be used for single-story tables and benches as well as for a wall of shelves. But because bending steel legs into hook shapes was somewhat unpredictable, Weller says he had to go through a lot of experimentation to find a configuration that would reliably line up one set of feet with the set below.
The final product employs four long, spindly clamp legs to secure each shelf. The end of each leg juts out a little in order to lock into the feet of the shelf above. These parts use the same mechanism as holdfasts in a shop; the hooks press the edges of the holes in which they're inserted. "It's this tension which is crucial to the structural integrity of the parts," says Weller.
Though the resulting multi-level structures appear delicate, they’re surprisingly sturdy, just like their namesake. Weller has done some DIY stress tests, and the four-tier unit, he says, is capable of supporting his bodyweight. While we admire his dedication to physical experimentation, we recommend you start with a few books first.
Images: Sam Weller
