We originally designed Butty shelving for our studio. We were experimenting with structures using simple clamping mechanisms, and thought shelving as a logical application of the idea. The idea was to make a flexible modular shelving structure with no fixed positions and almost infinite adjustability using the mechanism.
The system consists of solid wood dowels as uprights, machined plywood shelves with oak strips, and M6 machine screws and dowel nuts, with no permanent fixings. The system makes most sense in metal structures that offers better dimensional stability, but we didn’t have an easy access to a metal workshop, and we figured a combination of birch plywood and oak provide enough tolerance and stability to accommodate slight changes in dimensions.
There are no set heights, so the shelves can be fixed at any height, and also that allows adjustments for uneven floors.
System was initially developed in 2014, Butty was self produced by Mentsen to order.
Mentsen studio view
Mini Butty for shoes, private commission
Wall mount Butty for Barbican flat, private commission
Wall mount Butty for Barbican flat, private commission
Wall mount Butty with cabinet, private commission
