ReuseBookFurn
ReuseBookFurn is a hybrid space and design initiative that transforms discarded books into functional furniture, creating reading nooks, communal tables, and literary-inspired interiors. Each piece is handcrafted from reclaimed literature and designed to spark curiosity, sustainability, and dialogue. As both a showroom and a lending library, ReuseBookFurn offers a new chapter in how we experience furniture, storytelling, and circular design.
Who are we
At ReuseBookFurn, we believe that stories should never end—they should evolve. Our studio and showroom reimagine post-consumer books as structural materials for furniture, art, and community space design. Instead of ending up in landfill, retired volumes become the foundation of something tangible: a bench layered with poetry spines, a table made of mystery novels, or a shelf formed from encyclopedias.
Each item is built by hand with a strong focus on sustainable joinery, durability, and narrative symbolism. We partner with libraries, publishers, and individuals to rescue unsellable or damaged books and give them a second life in functional design.
The space also functions as a public reading lounge and micro-lending library, where guests can explore, borrow, or simply sit and reflect among furniture built from stories of the past. At ReuseBookFurn, we don’t just reuse—we retell.
Each item is built by hand with a strong focus on sustainable joinery, durability, and narrative symbolism. We partner with libraries, publishers, and individuals to rescue unsellable or damaged books and give them a second life in functional design.
The space also functions as a public reading lounge and micro-lending library, where guests can explore, borrow, or simply sit and reflect among furniture built from stories of the past. At ReuseBookFurn, we don’t just reuse—we retell.
Why us
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Upcycled Book-Based FurnitureOur creations are made entirely from discarded or unsellable books, repurposed into structurally sound, visually compelling furniture. From minimalist reading stools to entire storytelling walls, each design carries the imprint of literature while championing a zero-waste philosophy. - Library Meets Living RoomReuseBookFurn spaces blur the lines between gallery, library, and lounge. Visitors are encouraged to sit, read, explore, and borrow. Each item is tagged with its literary origins, turning even a table leg into a moment of rediscovery.
- Eco-Design with Emotional ValueBeyond sustainability, our pieces carry emotional stories. Many are crafted using books donated by individuals or families, turning memory and material into something enduring. The emotional connection adds warmth and meaning to every design.
- Modular & Custom InstallationsWe offer custom-designed book-furniture modules for cafes, schools, co-working spaces, and public libraries. Clients can co-curate the genres or titles used, creating spaces that are not just functional but deeply aligned with their brand, mission, or history.
- Hands-On Community WorkshopsOur studio runs monthly workshops on building small book-furniture items—like mini-shelves or book-plant stands—using safe tools and sustainable techniques. These sessions foster appreciation for circular craft and allow people to bring literature home in new form.
- Circular Culture & Book Rescue NetworkWe operate a growing network of book rescue drop-points and publisher partners. Donated materials are catalogued, reused, or offered to artists and educators. This ensures a full-circle, no-waste workflow that celebrates the narrative and physical life of books.
What can we do
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Book Furniture Design & CommissioningWe build bespoke pieces tailored to client needs—ranging from large seating installations for libraries to compact shelving for retail. Every commission begins with book selection: clients can supply their own titles or choose from our rescued archive. Each build blends functionality with layered visual storytelling. -
Interior Curation & Literary LayoutsWe offer full-scale space design using our furniture as a central theme. Ideal for reading cafés, coworking lounges, classrooms, or public waiting areas, our interior setups combine cozy usability with strong aesthetic narratives based on literary genres, authors, or cultural history. - Furniture + Lending IntegrationFor organizations seeking to merge function with community service, we build hybrid furniture-lending units—benches with book drawers, rotating lending shelves, or wall panels with interactive reading prompts. These pieces double as both decor and micro-libraries.
- Workshops & Educational ProgramsOur team leads workshops on sustainable craft, book upcycling, and emotional object-making. We work with schools, makerspaces, and eco-events to teach safe repurposing methods and instill values of material mindfulness and narrative reuse.
- Book Rescue & Donation HandlingWe coordinate the collection and sorting of unsellable or retired books via donation bins, mail-in programs, and publisher partnerships. Titles not suited for furniture are redirected to educators, artists, or used in paper craft projects—ensuring nothing goes to waste.
- Retail & Exhibition Pop-UpsReuseBookFurn organizes temporary installations in bookstores, galleries, or design fairs—inviting guests to interact with our pieces in curated storytelling environments. These pop-ups include onsite micro-libraries, purchase options, and book-to-furniture demos.
Contacts
Address:
8001 Zurich, SwitzerlandEmail: reusebookfurn@gmx.com
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