Decades prior to the mass popularity of neo-industrial cement floors and furniture taking shape, there was Willy Guhl. The Swiss creative is considered one of the first “industrial” designers in his home country. He pioneered a rugged, organic style of modern furniture and decor — stylish planters, shapely seating and lots more — that remains widely coveted by many today.
Guhl was born in 1915 in Stein am Rhein and worked as a carpenter before beginning studies at the Zurich School of Applied Arts (known today as the Zurich University of the Arts), where he would go on to teach for nearly 40 years.
While Guhl is well-known for his range of provocative garden elements as well as his patio and outdoor furniture, today’s legion of mid-century modern enthusiasts are likely familiar with the designer’s iconic Loop chair (introduced in 1954). For this sculptural seat and other furnishings, Guhl tended toward industrial materials, which he bent and shaped into organic forms for a striking juxtaposition. Much of his work is crafted from either concrete or Eternit, a mixture of cement and asbestos developed by the Belgian company Etex, which, in the 1950s, commissioned Guhl and his students at the School of Applied Arts to conceive planters in the material. The resulting vessels — some hourglass-shaped, some in the form of handkerchiefs, all suitable for indoors or exteriors — remain some of Guhl’s most collectible pieces.
Guhl’s affiliation with the Swiss “neo-functional” movement centered on the idea of simplifying design without sacrificing form. According to Guhl, his mission was “achieving the most with the minimum of effort.”
In addition to his work as a designer, Guhl left his mark on subsequent creatives through his 39-year tenure at his alma mater, where he was instructor to the likes of Robert Haussmann, Kurt Thut and Bruno Rey. Modern-day shoppers at IKEA owe Guhl a debt of gratitude too. He was an early advocate of flat-pack furniture, championing its ability to make good design more widely accessible.
At its core, though, Guhl’s work was inherently human-centric: “At the center of my efforts, I put people and their living requirements,” he once said. “My products must be useful to people.” Guhl died in 2004 at the age of 89.
Find a range of vintage Willy Guhl furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
28 Piece Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Bookcase, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental set of modular concrete cubes forming a giant bookcase by Swiss designer Willy Guhl. Made for Eternit in 1960s, Switzerland. Set includes 28 matching concrete rectangular ...
Concrete
Set of 5 SPACE-AGE Concrete BOOKCASES by WILLY GUHL for ETERNIT, Swiss 1970
By Willy Guhl
Located in PARIS, FR
A set of 5 (on a total of 20 identical pieces!!!) modular concrete bookcases, Modernist, Free Form, Brutalist, rectangular loop cases with rounded edges, with a great grey patina wit...
Concrete
$17,600Sale Price / set|44% Off
Willy Guhl 46 Piece Modular Concrete Cube Bookcase, 1978 Switzerland
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Stunning monumental 46 piece concrete bookcase by Willy Guhl. Made up of 2 different sized hand-made concrete cubes.36 big size and 10 small size, Completely modular and able to be ...
Concrete
Yellow and Green Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Bookcase, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Playful set of Willy Guhl concrete cubes made in 1960s Switzerland. 12 rectangular modular cubes can be arranged in a multitude of ways. Three different colors: yellow and two shades...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete Cube Side Table, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Add a brutalist flare to your interior with this piece by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. A sculptural concrete cube with a hollow interior and curved edges, this object would make for a...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Orange Concrete Bookcase, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful set of painted concrete cubes in a pastel orange by Swiss architect and designer Willy Guhl. Handmade in the early 1960s in Switzerland. Produced by Eternit. Set of 9 cubes...
Concrete
$28,000
Willy Guhl Cube Bookcase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Unique set of tangerine orange painted Willy Guhl cubes Great scale and function Perfect for retail store - or a pop of color in any room Produced in 1960's Switzerland by Eternit...
Concrete
$22,500 / set
Willy Guhl Bookcase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Incredible Concrete modular bookcase by Willy Guhl, Switzerland, 1960s Individual concrete cubes can be arranged in variety of shapes to suit whatever space. Includes a wonderful v...
Concrete
Willy Guhl 50 Piece Modular Concrete Cube Bookcase, 1960s Switzerland
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning monumental 50 piece concrete bookcase by Willy Guhl. Made up of 4 different sized hand-made concrete cubes. Completely modular and able to be arranged in a multitude of ways...
Concrete
$24,500
Willy Guhl Bookcase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Incredible Concrete modular bookcase by Willy Guhl, Switzerland, 1960s Individual concrete cubes can be arranged in variety of shapes to suit whateve...
Concrete
38 Piece Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Bookcase, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental bookcase by Swiss architect and designer Willy Guhl. Made for Eternit in 1960s, Switzerland. Set consists of 38 matching concrete cubes. Massive presence in person. Can be...
Concrete
$10,500 / set
Willy Guhl Orange Concrete Bookcase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique set of painted concrete cubes in a pastel orange by Swiss architect and designer Willy Guhl. Handmade in the early 1960s in Switzerland. Produced by Eternit. Set of 5 cubes in...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete Octagonal Vase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Concrete vase by Willy Guhl. Made of fiber cement. 8 sided with small base. Great vintage condition. Great oversized vase.
Cement
$7,200 / set
Willy Guhl Modular Cement Cube Bookcase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic cement cubes by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl, for Eternit. 6 modular cubes made of fiber cement, can be arranged in a multitude of ways. Great for ...
Cement
$2,852 / set
Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Bookcase, 1960s
By Willy Guhl
Located in Balen, BE
A set of 4 sculptural concrete bookcase elements by Swiss architect Willy Guhl, produced in Switzerland in the 1960s by Eternit. The cubes can be arranged in various ways and is a wo...
Concrete, Other
Willy Guhl Fatboy Hourglass Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Willy Guhl concrete diabolo planter. Short and fat. Rarer model. Great condition and coloring. Only one available.
Cement
Golf Clubs Shoehorn Brass Vintage German 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Super cool and nice design sculptural golf clubs shoehorn, made by Gerstenberg, Kunstgewerbe in Germany. material is polished brass. Nice golf collectible or just do use it. Nice add...
Metal, Chrome
$17,000
H 52 in W 34.5 in D 31 in
American Mahogany and Cast Iron Copying Press with Paw Feet, Charleston, SC 1830
Located in Charleston, SC
American cast iron and mahogany two-drawer copying press with a turned bulbous cork screw handle, floral decorative pressure plate, flanking fluted decorati...
Brass, Iron
Vintage Danish Teak Bookends 1960s, Set of 2
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish teak bookends 1960s, Set of 2 Pair of Danish Mid-Century Modern bookends in solid teak with metal base. Very good original condition. Ready to support.
Teak
Willy Guhl Concrete Octagonal Vase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Concrete vase by Willy Guhl. Made of fiber cement. 8 sided with small base. Great vintage condition. Great oversized vase.
Cement
$4,200Sale Price|23% Off
H 65.75 in W 71 in D 1.25 in
Brazilian Hardwood, Leather and Mirrored Panel Folding Screen, Brazil, c 1960s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful four-paneled Brazilian Hardwood folding screen with leather panels on one side and mirrored paneling on the reverse. Produced in Brazil in circa 1960s, this folding scree...
Wood, Leather, Mirror
Luigi Spandolini Modular Room Divider
By Kartell, Pierluigi Spandolini
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s for Kartell, produced in Italy. It is fully modular, composed of lids, cylinders, and double cylinders that allow it to flex. The piece is in great good condition but does h...
Plastic
$2,016
H 31.7 in W 19.49 in D 19.49 in
Antique Sheraton Revival Hardwood & Satinwood Revolving Bookcase Side End Table
By Sheraton Revival
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very fine antique Sheraton Revival Mahogany & Satinwood revolving bookcase table A very good looking well made and decorative piece. Made i...
Hardwood, Satinwood
2 Bookends polished wood with inlays around 1960s
Located in Wien, Au
2 Bookends polished wood with inlays around 1960s Polished
Wood
Modular Storage 'KOU' Made of Concrete
By Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
'KOU' is a modular storage made of concrete by Bentu Design [Blocks sold individually] Dimension of one block: 36 x 36 x 26cm Bentu Design's furnitu...
Concrete
$2,087 / set
H 20.28 in W 39.77 in D 14.18 in
Danish Modern Modular Oak and Hessian bookcases by HG, 1970s. Set of 6.
By Rud Thygesen and Johnny Sorensen, Hansen & Guldborg Møbler
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Modern Modular Oak Bookcases by HG Furniture, 1970s. Set of 6. Scandinavian Mid-Century Modern set of six bookcase modules in oak. Designed by Rud Thygesen and Johnny Sørense...
Oak
Mogens Koch Solid Oak Modular Bookcases
By Mogens Koch
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mogens Koch solid oak modular bookcases with removable plinths by Rud Rasmussen. Denmark c. 1950s. One unit available. Measurements: Each unit measures 30” width, 11” depth, 30...
Oak
$2,597Sale Price|20% Off
H 124.02 in W 40.56 in D 9.45 in
Sky-Land Bookcase, 'Puntello Modulare' a Modular and Adaptable Bookcase
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Sky-floor bookcase 'Puntello Modulare' Puntello Modulare is a modular and adaptable sky-floor bookcase. Starting from our Prop, we have designed a modular system that allows you to ...
Brass, Iron
38 Piece Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Bookcase, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental bookcase by Swiss architect and designer Willy Guhl. Made for Eternit in 1960s, Switzerland. Set consists of 38 matching concrete cubes. Massive presence in person. Can be...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Bookcase, 1960s
By Willy Guhl
Located in Balen, BE
A set of 4 sculptural concrete bookcase elements by Swiss architect Willy Guhl, produced in Switzerland in the 1960s by Eternit. The cubes can be arranged in various ways and is a wo...
Concrete, Other
Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Bookcase, 1960s
By Willy Guhl
Located in Balen, BE
A set of 4 sculptural concrete bookcase elements by Swiss architect Willy Guhl, produced in Switzerland in the 1960s by Eternit. The cubes can be arranged in various ways and is a wo...
Concrete, Other
Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Bookcase, 1960s
By Willy Guhl
Located in Balen, BE
A set of 4 sculptural concrete bookcase elements by Swiss architect Willy Guhl, produced in Switzerland in the 1960s by Eternit. The cubes can be arranged in various ways and is a wo...
Concrete, Other
Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Bookcase, 1960s
By Willy Guhl
Located in Balen, BE
A set of 4 sculptural concrete bookcase elements by Swiss architect Willy Guhl, produced in Switzerland in the 1960s by Eternit. The cubes can be arranged in various ways and is a wo...
Concrete, Other
Willy Guhl Cube Bookcase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Incredible 52 piece concrete modular bookcase by Willy Guhl Composed of different sized concrete cubes - can be arranged in various different forms ac...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Bookcase, Switzerland, 1970's
By Willy Guhl
Located in Gardena, CA
Incredible concrete modular bookcase by Swiss architect and Industrial design pioneer Willy Guhl for Eternit, Switzerland, 1970's. 19 individual concr...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete Cube Side Table, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural concrete cube side table by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Handmade in Switzerland in the early 1960s. Produced by Eternit. Age and weather has given this piece an inimitable...
Concrete
Large Library of Willy Guhl '1915-2004', Switzerland, 50s
By Willy Guhl
Located in VILLERS-SUR-MER, FR
A large fibrocement bookcase by Willy Guhl (1915-2004) composed of 68 elements of different sizes. Published by Eternit. Switzerland, 50s.
Cement
100 Piece Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Bookcase, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning monumental 100 piece concrete bookcase by Willy Guhl. Made up of 4 different sized hand-made concrete cubes. Completely modular and able to be a...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete Cube Side Table, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic modular fiber cement cube by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl, for Eternit. Amazing scale and patina to each cube. Great as a side table, for holding b...
Cement, Concrete
Willy Guhl Concrete Cube Side Table, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic modular fiber cement cube by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl, for Eternit. Amazing scale and patina to the black and white paint. Great as a side table, for holding books or as ...
Cement, Concrete