Albero
Made by Poltrona Frau
Designed by Gianfranco Frattini
Gianfranco Frattini conceived the Albero in the late 1950s not as furniture but as architecture within a room. Its name, Italian for "tree," is fitting: the piece rises from floor to ceiling with the quiet authority of something that grew there, defining space without enclosing it.
The supporting structure is solid Canaletto walnut, a wood prized for its grain depth and dimensional stability. Toothed uprights carry twelve adjustable shelves, each repositionable to accommodate objects of varying scale. A 360-degree rotating system makes the piece fully accessible from every angle, dissolving the conventional wall-bound logic of storage.
- Solid Canaletto walnut structure
- Twelve adjustable shelves on toothed uprights
- Full 360-degree rotation
- Burnished steel fixing elements
- Floor-to-ceiling freestanding form
Burnished steel fixing elements contrast the warmth of walnut with something more precise, grounding the composition in material dialogue. The Albero remains one of Frattini's most enduring works, a piece that belongs equally to the history of Italian design and to the life of any room it inhabits.
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Albero
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the Albero bookcase and when?
The Albero was designed by Gianfranco Frattini in the late 1950s. Frattini was a Milan-based architect and designer closely associated with the postwar Italian rationalist tradition, known for his rigorous approach to form and material.
What wood is used in the Albero bookcase?
The structure is made from solid Canaletto walnut, a variety valued for its pronounced grain, warm tone, and dimensional stability, qualities that make it well suited to a floor-to-ceiling structural piece.
How does the Albero's rotating system work?
The Albero features a 360-degree rotating mechanism that allows the entire shelving unit to pivot fully, making every shelf accessible from any angle without repositioning the piece or moving around it.
Is the Albero freestanding or does it require wall mounting?
The Albero is a freestanding floor-to-ceiling column, fixed between floor and ceiling without wall attachment. This allows it to function as a spatial divider or sculptural centerpiece independent of the room's perimeter.
Can the shelves on the Albero be adjusted?
Yes. The twelve shelves are mounted on toothed uprights that allow them to be repositioned at varying heights, accommodating books, objects, and collections of different scales.