"The spaces we inhabit are infused with our identities. The objects we choose to surround ourselves with tell stories about our lives, the memories we want to make, and the people we want to be."
- Linda Korndal

Created for GUBI by architect Linda Korndal's studio, Toko Among Friends, the Keen Shelving System embodies this belief. It is not solely a storage solution; it is a stage to celebrate the objects and narratives that define your life.

Fundamental to Keen is the system's ability to adapt and expand to suit the size of the space and meet the changing needs of the user. From compact apartments to spacious family homes, hospitality environments to workspaces, Keen can grow with the user through every stage of life, move with them from place to place, and adapt to their evolving circumstances. Korndal and her team at Toko Among Friends have developed a shelving concept that is rich in personality yet open to personalization.

Where many modular systems have obvious connection mechanisms and an open-source feel, Keen has been carefully designed to appear whole and self-contained in all configurations, endlessly expandable yet always complete. The core components of the system are vertical metal rods, three lengths of open shelf, an enclosed box shelf, feet for the bottom, and soft arches at the top. The connectors enable the unit to be extended vertically by adding more rods and shelves, with each rod piercing the shelf above through a specially engineered connector bracket. Another rod is then connected to the bracket from the top, locking the shelf in place and allowing for the next layer to be added. Wall mounts can be added to ensure stability as the unit gets taller. For horizontal expansion, individual shelves can be easily replaced and repositioned in an interlocking pattern to create a stable, woven structure.

Keen is available in seven core modules: three sets of low shelves and four sets of high shelves in varying lengths, with the option to include a box shelf in each of the medium-length modules. Wall-mounted, freestanding, or used as room dividers, these modules can be mixed and matched to suit the dimensions of the space and the needs of the user. Keen is as flexible in appearance as it is in form, with a diverse material palette for both shelves and frame, ranging from dark to light, matte to reflective, curated to offer both contrast and clarity. Conjure a sense of tradition and texture with a black brass frame, or opt for the softer, more contemporary character of satin-polished stainless steel. FSC-certified black-brown stained ash and FSC-certified ALPI Sottsass Gray veneer (FSC-C176589) are the two wood options. The ALPI Sottsass veneer introduces an unexpected softness and tactile depth, with its swirling, almost fabric-like patterned gray surface.