183 - J.A. van ’t Leven (born 1948)

J.A. van ’t Leven (born 1948) Wall-mounted CD cabinet with built-in table Black-stained molded plywood and gray Abet Laminati laminate Netherlands, 2009 One-of-a-kind prototype H67 W70 D30 cm Signed and dated on the inside. In very good original condition. The unit has a very small area of damage that has been carefully repaired and otherwise shows only slight signs of wear. A unique wall-mounted CD cabinet with an integrated shelf, designed by Dutch interior architect and furniture designer J.A. van ’t Leven in 2009. The design combines a tall cylindrical unit with a compact semicircular shelf. The unit’s curved exterior is clad in a finely textured gray laminate by Abet Laminati, which contrasts with the black-stained molded plywood used for the interior and the shelf. Behind the curved door lies a storage system originally designed specifically for CDs. Its compact proportions and sculptural appearance also allow for other uses, such as a jewelry cabinet, bar cabinet, or occasional storage unit. The adjoining shelf incorporates a discreet pull-out, offering additional space when needed while remaining nearly invisible when closed. This ingenious functional detail characterizes Van ’t Leven’s approach, in which practical solutions are integrated into precise architectural forms. J.A. van ’t Leven (1948–2018) was a Dutch interior architect, furniture designer, and environmental designer. He studied architectural design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague, from which he graduated in 1978, before earning a degree in environmental design with honors in 1980. From 1981 to 2013, he taught at the same academy while working as an independent designer beginning in 1983. In 1991, one of his dining chairs received the award for best Dutch classic furniture design at the Utrecht Furniture Fair. Created as an experimental prototype in 2009, this piece remained a one-of-a-kind creation and was never commercially produced. A truly unique and versatile piece of Dutch independent design, combining storage, furniture, and architectural form into a single sculptural object.