Studio GISTO Turns Bookcases into Load-Bearing Walls for Frakas
Studio GISTO has built a production room inside Frakas Design Studio's Milan headquarters by using four bookcases as load-bearing walls. The intervention creates a dedicated space for a new risograph printer, workshops, and community sessions. The structure includes a lightweight roof, movable screens, and a vivid red color scheme, making storage itself the structural element. This follows the studio's first project for the same client's Parco Gallery in 2024. The design collapses the distinction between shelving and structure, allowing the workspace to function as a laboratory, classroom, or display area. The project treats the studio's evolving needs as a continuation of earlier work, echoing approaches by Zyva Studio and RAW Studio.
Key facts
- Studio GISTO built a production room inside Frakas Design Studio's headquarters on Via Zuretti in Milan.
- Four bookcases serve as load-bearing walls, supporting the roof.
- The room houses a new risograph printer for the neighborhood.
- Movable screens (paraventi) can open or close the space for different uses.
- The design uses a vivid red color and compact geometric footprint.
- This is Studio GISTO's second project for the same client, following Parco Gallery in 2024.
- The structure allows light to pass through, maintaining visual dialogue with the surrounding workspace.
- The project argues that structural furniture can carry identity-building weight, echoing RAW Studio's workspace in Sondrio.
Entities
Institutions
- Studio GISTO
- Frakas Design Studio
- Parco Gallery
- Zyva Studio
- RAW Studio
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Via Zuretti
- Paris
- France
- Sondrio