The word “dogma” can be defined as a principle or set of principles put in place by an authority as incontrovertibly true. In the case of Dogma bookshelves, designed by Alain Gilles for BONALDO, the design principles that have been created are pushed by testing the limits of these self-imposed rules. The bookshelves can have various widths and heights, as well as act as partitions, for customization within the parameters. Defined by tension that’s generated by the space between uprights, placement, and the light play cast off, the results are architecturally and aesthetically strong.
By playing with a water drop shape and repeating it to create different results, Gilles has brought to life a sort of utopia. The units are self-supporting and meant to be used against a wall or as a freestanding, statement-making partition in the middle of a space. Combine units and adjust the height of each shelf to produce different styles and match the energy you’d like to have in the space. The design language created for Dogma might even extend itself to other types of furniture in the future.
No matter the configuration, Dogma bookshelves will consistently look different, depending on the angle they’re viewed from. The furniture’s characteristics – round, thin, angular – and patterns of light put forth an ever-evolving perception of change.
