In Brussels, JOA designed a bespoke bookcase with an integrated desk that goes beyond storage to become a true architectural composition. Designed to accommodate books and decorative objects while providing a dedicated workspace, it combines solid bamboo, coloured steel in a palette of pink tones, and brass.
Can a bookcase be much more than a piece of furniture? At JOA, it can structure a space, support the way people use it and, above all, reflect the personality of those who live there.
In this apartment at the Résidence Brusilia in Schaerbeek, JOA designed a bespoke bookcase with an integrated desk for Pascale Vander Zypen, a Belgian actress, author and theatre director. Her wish was to create a personal and functional space that could accommodate her book collection and decorative objects while also supporting her professional activities.
The project is set within an apartment in a late modernist building, whose volumes and natural light informed the design. Rather than simply occupying a wall, the bookcase becomes an integral part of the space, responding to its different uses.
A free-flowing composition, designed down to the finest detail
Extending along the full length of the room, the bookcase plays with solid and open volumes. Sliding doors alternate with a series of Y-shaped uprights, arranged in a deliberately free composition. This creates a graphic rhythm that gives the piece its distinctive character while preserving a sense of lightness.
The piece flows naturally into a desk positioned in front of the window. The storage area thus transitions into a fully integrated workspace, open to the natural light and views across Brussels.
At the junction between the two functions, the curve — a signature feature of JOA’s design language — creates continuity between the bookcase and the desk. It softens the composition while allowing for easy movement through the space.
At JOA, a curve is never merely an aesthetic effect. It responds to the volumes of the room, allowing the furniture to integrate naturally into its surroundings.
Materials that bring the design to life
Solid bamboo forms the foundation of this composition. Its warm tone and distinctive grain bring depth and character to the piece, while the coloured steel Y-shaped uprights introduce a more graphic dimension.
Rendered in different shades of pink, they give the bookcase its distinctive identity. Colour becomes an integral part of the composition: it creates rhythm within the niches, highlights selected lines and draws the eye to particular details.
A few brass details complete the piece, lending the overall design an elegant finish.
The combination of these three materials — wood, steel and brass — reflects an approach central to JOA’s work: bringing materials, colours and volumes into dialogue to create a coherent design, considered down to the smallest detail.
A piece designed with and for the people who live with it
Beyond its composition and material choices, this bespoke bookcase with an integrated desk was designed around its owner’s needs and everyday routines.
Books, decorative objects and work: each function finds its natural place within the furniture. The bookcase becomes a storage solution, a defining feature of the interior and a workspace, all while retaining a strong sense of unity.
This project illustrates one of JOA’s fundamental principles: bespoke furniture is defined by far more than its dimensions. It is conceived in relation to its surroundings, taking into account how the space is used, circulation, natural light and, above all, the people who will live with it.
From initial design to fabrication, every project is developed to achieve the right balance between functionality, materials and personal expression.
Planning a bespoke bookcase with an integrated desk? Get in touch with one of our designers via our contact page or visit our showroom.
FAQ — Bespoke bookcases
Why choose a bespoke bookcase?
A bespoke bookcase can be designed to fit the exact dimensions and specific characteristics of a space, while reflecting the needs and habits of the people who live there. At JOA, every project is developed in dialogue with the interior architecture, taking into account circulation, natural light and the client’s requirements.
Can a desk be integrated into a bespoke bookcase?
Yes. A bookcase can be designed to combine several functions, including storage, bookshelves, a desk or dedicated space for decorative objects. In this Brussels project, the bookcase flows naturally into a desk positioned in front of the window.
Which materials can be used for a bespoke bookcase?
The choice of materials depends on the project, the space and the desired atmosphere. JOA works with a range of materials, including solid wood, steel and brass, which can be combined to create distinctive and functional compositions. In this project, solid bamboo is paired with coloured steel and brass details.
Can colour be incorporated into a bespoke bookcase?
Colour can play an integral role in the design of bespoke furniture. It can highlight specific elements, create rhythm within a composition or give a piece its own identity. For this bookcase in Brussels, different shades of pink were chosen for the steel uprights.
How does JOA design bespoke furniture?
At JOA, every project is developed in close collaboration with the client, from the initial ideas through to installation. The designers work with the characteristics of the space, its constraints and the intended uses to create a unique design. The furniture is then manufactured in JOA’s own joinery workshop in Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium, before being installed by the company’s own team.