ETHEA is Manerba’s new modular system of shelving and desks, designed for Milan Design Week 2026 by Ilaria Marelli. A project that interprets and develops the Be Human concept, translating it into a design language that places people and their way of inhabiting workspaces at the centre.
ETHEA stems from a careful observation of contemporary scenarios, where environments are becoming increasingly fluid and hybrid. Offices, hospitality spaces, domestic settings and collaborative areas merge, 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 round-section tubular metal frame, a design element that combines structural solidity with visual lightness and supports a wide range of configurations and accessories.
ETHEA is conceived as an open system, where each element can be moved, reconfigured or expanded, offering maximum design freedom. The shelving units enhance vertical surfaces while maintaining a clean, light and contemporary aesthetic, functioning both as wall-mounted elements and as partitions capable of organising space without interrupting visual and light continuity. The slender round-section tubular metal frame enables a wide variety of configurations without appearing bulky: by playing with orientations, it is possible to create linear or curved compositions, closed with storage units or partitions, or open with visible shelving. Available in different heights and lengths, the system ensures scalable and flexible configurations, while the open-frame structure separates spaces while preserving natural light and a sense of openness.
The same logic extends to the system of desks, tables and work surfaces, designed to adapt to multiple contexts and working modes. Configurations can be single, double or multiple, linear or double-sided, with integrated sound-absorbing panels to improve acoustic comfort. Whether in open-plan offices, creative studios, hospitality environments, corporate spaces or retail settings, ETHEA is designed to evolve alongside the space, subtly separating functions, defining work areas or creating zones dedicated to relaxation.
Customisation is an integral part of the project. Panels, shelves, storage units, lockers, grids and planters allow tailored configurations, making each environment more human and responsive to users’ needs. 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 enables the creation of coherent and distinctive environments, in dialogue with the surrounding architecture.
Thanks to its modularity, reusability and ease of reconfiguration, ETHEA promotes a circular approach to design, helping to reduce environmental impact and extend product life cycles. In this context, the system is no longer just furniture, but a lightweight infrastructure capable of supporting the evolution of contemporary spaces, interpreting a workplace that is increasingly open, dynamic and people-centred.
For more information, visit www.manerbaspa.com
