70 years ago, Swedish architect and master cabinetmaker Olle Pira debuted the original Pira shelf at the H55 design exhibition in Helsingborg, Sweden, in 1955. Extremely innovative for its time, Pira was notable for being one of the first systems that could run from floor to ceiling, acting as both a shelving unit and a room divider with a light, airy aesthetic. In 1960s, Pira became a beloved design icon gracing the homes of celebrities including Mike Jagger.
In 2023, String Furniture, the Scandinavian design-led storage brand, unveiled the Pira G2, a contemporary interpretation of the mid-century classic icon by architects Anna von Schewen and industrial designer Björn Dahlström. The floor to ceiling height shelving system combines delicate elegance with brutal robustness, offering a sophisticated and versatile storage system.
At DESIGN MUMBAI (26th – 29th November), String Furniture presents Pira G2, marking seven decades since the shelf's iconic debut.
© String Furniture
Pira G2, Black Grey, floor-ceiling mounted. Height 240 cm. Width 90 + 70 cm. Cabinets and organisers in walnut
A modular design that can be free-standing or wall mounted, Pira G2 brings a strong architectural presence to any commercial or residential space. Crafted from contemporary materials with a gentle nod to the 1950s, Pira G2 combines elegance with exceptional robustness.
Although the starting point was the original design, Anna von Schewen and Björn Dahlström have designed a completely new expression.
"The ambition was never to design a retro-style piece of furniture, but rather to embrace the core idea behind the original PIRA and create a taller, wider version" explains Björn Dahlström.
© String Furniture
LEFT: Pira G2, White, floor-ceiling mounted. Cabinets and organisers in white oak
RIGHT: Pira G2, Black Grey, floor-ceiling mounted. Cabinets and organisers in walnut
Thanks to its frame and size, Pira G2 carries an obvious gravitas and architectural expression. An elegant and impressive piece of furniture, Pira G2 is suitable for large living spaces or public spaces as its shelves can hold up to 50 kilos, large cabinets, solid bookends and dividers.
"The central point in the Pira G2 design is the pole which makes the floor-to-ceiling tensioned shelf possible, completely free-standing. Another important feature is how the shelves themselves wrap around the poles to connect, as if they were one piece. It's a type of furniture design that creates a gestalt, even though it's a modular system", says Anna von Schewen.
© String Furniture
Pira G2, Walnut and Oak
Manufactured exclusively from high-end materials, its shelves are made of lacquered steel sheets and the poles of extruded aluminium which emphasises its solid expression. With a choice of walnut or white oak cabinets, bookends and the magazine shelf, its wood brings a beautiful warmth, creating a contrast against the lacquered materials.
Discussing the use of Pira G2 in an office setting, Bo Hellberg, CMO at String Furniture, comments, "We see an increased interest for all String Furniture products for use in offices and commercial spaces, especially Pira G2. As employers are trying to convince coworkers to come back the workplace, creating an inspiring and functionally flexible space becomes key. Open plan probably never filled us with joy if we're honest and breaking up and office with dividers like Pira makes for a much more dynamic space. Flexibility is also a key advantage as all our product ranges can easily be reconfigured."
© String Furniture
More information:
String Furniture AB
26-29 November, 2025
Jio World Garden, Mumbai
Stand C32
[email protected]
www.stringfurniture.com
+46 40 18 7001
Sweden
