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.
$17,600Sale Price / set|44% Off
Willy Guhl 46 Piece Modular Concrete Cube Bookcase, 1978 Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
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
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
Willy Guhl 50 Piece Modular Concrete Cube Bookcase, 1960s Switzerland
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
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
$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
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 ...
Fibre Cement
Willy Guhl Modular Concrete Bookcase Set, Mid-Century Modern Design
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
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...
Fibre Cement
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
$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
$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
$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
$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
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
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
Modular Bookcase in Teak Design Vittorio Dassi, 1960s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in taranto, IT
Original 1960s teak bookcase, Vittorio Dassi design, composed of three wooden uprights (not metal!), 3 closed elements of which 2 with sliding doors and one with folding doors, and 6...
Metal
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
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. Three units available. Priced individually. Measurements: Each unit measures ...
Oak
$23,500 / set
H 22 in W 104 in D 9.63 in L 22 in
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
$56,500 / set
H 61.25 in W 98 in D 11.25 in
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...
Fibre Cement
$4,800 / set
H 98.43 in W 45.28 in D 8.67 in
Set of Four "Rialto" Wood Bookcases by Carlo Scarpa for Simon Gavina, 1970s
By Gavina, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Milan, IT
Set of four "Rialto" bookcases by Carlo Scarpa for Gavina. "In the early 1970s, Carlo Scarpa designed this model for his home. After three years of "enjoyable" discussions, Gavina ...
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
$3,950
H 63.75 in W 36 in D 12.5 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Maple Modular 3 Piece, 4 Drawer Shelves - Bookcase
By Winchendon, Paul McCobb, Planner Group
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Paul McCobb Planner Group for Winchendon three piece, sectional Bookcase, Shelves, Drawers, 1950's. Featuring rectangular construction in Maple, three modular sections, open top uni...
Birch
Large Modular Wood Bookcase, Italy, 1960s
Located in Milan, IT
Large modular bookcase composed by movable black painted shelves and wood uprights with brass feet. More uprights and shelves available.
Brass
Late 20th Century Solid Cherry Pigeon Hole Cube Bookcase
By Bombay Furniture Co.
Located in Germantown, MD
A Late 20th Century Solid Cherry Pigeon Hole Cube Bookcase in lacquered finish. Each cube measures 5.6" W x 6.25"D x 6.25"H. Great vintage condition.
Cherry, Plywood
$5,514
H 78.75 in W 28.35 in D 15.75 in
Susi & Ueli Berger ‘Fächermann’ Bookcase for Röthlisberger, Switzerland, 1980s
By Susi & Ueli Berger
Located in amstelveen, NL
An unusual and playful piece of Swiss design from the 1980s. The ‘Fächermann’ bookcase was designed by Susi & Ueli Berger in 1977 and produced by Röthlisberger in Switzerland. T...
Plywood
Bookcase
Located in London, England
Two door glazed walnut bookcase / cabinet with ormolu mounts on turned feet. Circa 1870 H 112cm x W 121cm x D 37cm
Walnut
$7,008
H 71.26 in W 96.46 in D 19.69 in
Italian Wardrobe Bookcase, Modular Wall Unit by Vittorio Dassi, Italy, 1960s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Traversetolo, IT
"Italian modular wall unit attributed to Vittorio Dassi, produced in the 1960s. The piece combines open shelving and a wardrobe module within a vertically structured system. The com...
Ash, Teak
$2,987Sale Price|20% Off
H 78.75 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Iconic Michel Dumas Plexiglas Bookcase – 1970s French Space Age Design
By Michel Dumas
Located in Oirlo, LI
This striking bookcase by Michel Dumas is a powerful expression of 1970s French space-age design. Crafted from high-quality Plexiglas, the piece showcases Dumas’s mastery of trans...
Plexiglass
$8,650 / set
H 64.375 in W 119.125 in D 14.125 in
Danish Modern Oak Modular Wall Unit, Mid Century Bookcase Display Cabinet
By Hansen & Guldborg Møbler
Located in Detroit, MI
This set of three vintage mid century Danish modern oak wood bookcase display cabinets by Hansen & Guldborg was made in Denmark circa 1960. The minimalist Scandinavian modern des...
Wood, Oak
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 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
Willy Guhl 20 Piece Modular Concrete Bookcase, 1960s
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning sculptural set of painted concrete cubes by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Handmade in the early 1960s in Switzerland and all painted in a soft cream color. Produced by Eternit...
Concrete
Willy Guhl 15 Piece Modular Concrete Bookcase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural set of painted concrete cubes by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Handmade in the early 1960s in Switzerland. Produced by Eternit. Red, blue, green, white and black coloring. C...
Concrete
Willy Guhl Modular 5 Piece Concrete Bookcase
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great set of concrete cubes painted in cream. Designed 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 Cement Cube Side Table
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic modular fiber cement cube by Swiss Architect Willy Guhl, for Eternit. Great as a side table, for holding books or as a minimalist nightstand. Onl...
Cement