ETHEA is the new modular shelving and desk system by Manerba designed by Ilaria Marelli. A project that interprets and develops the Be Human concept, translating it into a design language focused on people and on the way they experience workspaces.
ETHEA stems from a careful observation of contemporary scenarios, where environments are becoming increasingly fluid and hybrid. Offices, hospitality spaces, domestic interiors and collaborative areas are merging, requiring flexible, reconfigurable solutions capable of evolving over time.
The system is based on four key principles – strength, versatility, lightness and flexibility – expressed through an essential tubular metal structure with a round section. This design element combines solidity with visual lightness and becomes the support for a wide variety of configurations and accessories.
The ETHEA shelving system makes use of vertical surfaces while maintaining a clean, lightweight and contemporary aesthetic. Thanks to its modular and reconfigurable nature, the system combines compositional elegance with versatility, adapting perfectly both to wall-mounted installations and to use as a partition element for separating spaces. The slim tubular metal structure with a round section offers a wide range of configurations without appearing bulky.
The shelving units connect with a simple clip system. The modules are joined through a practical strap designed by the designer herself: a discreet yet functional detail that allows the structures to be connected with a simple and immediate gesture.
By playing with orientations, it is possible to create linear or curved compositions, closed with storage units or dividers, or open with visible shelves. Every element can be moved, reconfigured, adjusted or expanded, offering maximum freedom to redesign the layout at any time. The open-frame structure separates spaces while preserving visual continuity and natural light, maintaining a feeling of openness and spaciousness.
Personalisation is an integral part of the project. Panels, shelves, storage units, lockers, grids and planters allow tailor-made configurations, making every environment more human and better suited to the needs of those who inhabit it.
The same logic extends to the desk, meeting tables, snack tables and bar, designed to adapt to multiple contexts and working modes. Configurations can be single, double or multiple, linear or double-sided, with the integration of acoustic panels to improve sound comfort.
Colour also becomes a design tool: a palette combining warm tones such as Ochre, Clay, Orange and Garnet Red with brighter accents like Bristol Blue allows the creation of coherent and distinctive environments in dialogue with the existing architecture.
Whether for open spaces, creative studios, hospitality environments, executive offices or retail spaces, ETHEA is designed to evolve together with the space, discreetly separating functions, defining operational areas or creating zones dedicated to relaxation.
Thanks to its modularity, reusability and ease of reconfiguration, ETHEA promotes a circular approach to design, helping reduce environmental impact and extend the product’s life cycle. In this scenario, the system is no longer simply furniture, but a lightweight infrastructure capable of accompanying the evolution of contemporary spaces, interpreting a workplace that is increasingly open, dynamic and people-centred.
For more information, visit www.manerbaspa.com
