Xl Congress Bookcase Produced By Lips Vago In 1960

This extraordinary Congresso model bookcase was designed and produced by Lips Vago in 1967, representing one of the most innovative and iconic modular systems of Italian design of the Sixties.

Winner of the prestigious SMAU Industrial Design Award that same year, the Congresso bookcase immediately established itself as a symbol of a rational and functional approach, capable of combining architecture and furniture in a single design gesture.

The version proposed here is the XL, the rarest and most sought-after of all, today considered a true collector's item.

Unlike the standard version with 5 shelves per side, this imposing configuration reaches 3 meters in height and houses 7 shelves per side, for a total of 14 double-sided shelves.

The double structure makes it a sculptural piece with a strong impact, perfect as a central divider within lofts, galleries and public spaces or as an architectural installation capable of redefining the space.

A historical detail of absolute importance is that these libraries were adopted by the Vatican Archives, confirming their solidity and the institutional vocation of a system designed to endure over time and contain a wealth of knowledge.

Today they have become extremely rare on the market: we have 4 identical modules available, for a total of 4 linear meters, a unique opportunity to furnish an entire space with aesthetic and historical coherence.

Crafted from military green steel, typical of Lips Vago's industrial aesthetic, the bookcase retains all its original expressive power: the shelves are adjustable and slide with a simple gesture, allowing for extreme versatility. The solid base ensures stability, while the rigorous proportions confirm the project's rationalist and minimalist vocation.

Published repeatedly in magazines like Domus, the Congresso bookcase is now an icon of Italian design that has been out of production for decades. This XL version is an extremely rare model, virtually impossible to find on the international market, and represents a real opportunity for collectors, galleries, and architects seeking a unique piece that combines history, functionality, and sculptural power.

Perfect condition, with slight signs of aging and small spots of rust that give them an extraordinary original patina, a testament to their authenticity and lived-in beauty.

NB: The price indicated is for a 100x300cm module

Product Name: Congresso XL Bookcase produced by Lips Vago in 1960
Designer: Lips Vago
Year of Design: 1967
Style: 1960s Italian Rationalism and Modernism
Main Materials: Military green painted steel
Distinctive Design: 3-metre high double-sided structure with 7 shelves per side (14 shelves in total), solid base, adjustable and sliding shelves, rigorous and minimalist architectural lines
Dimensions: Height 300cm | Width 100cm | Depth 70cm | 4 modules available for a total of 400cm linear
Comfort: Maximum functionality and storage capacity, with adjustable shelves that allow for versatile use in different contexts
Typical Use: Central partition for lofts and galleries, furniture for public and institutional spaces, also ideal as a high-impact architectural installation
Design Icon: Winner of the SMAU Industrial Design Award 1967, published in Domus, adopted by the Vatican Archives, a symbol of modular and functional Italian design of the 1960s
Versatility: Perfect for both contemporary environments and historical contexts, can be used as a bookcase or as a sculptural architectural divider
Current Design Condition: Excellent vintage condition with minor signs of aging and small rust spots that give it a very charming original patina
Additional Notes: Please note that this item is in excellent vintage condition. There may be minor signs of aging, which do not affect its functionality. We invite you to consider these characteristics before purchasing.

Lips Vago, based in Milan, was one of the most important Italian companies producing modular metal systems in the post-World War II era. Born from the encounter between the industrial tradition of Lips , a historic Dutch company specializing in storage and security systems (safes), and the Italian company Vago , the company established itself as a benchmark in the production of metal furnishings for offices, archives, libraries, and institutional spaces starting in the 1950s.

Lips Vago's strength lay in the union of industrial functionality and rationalist design , with solutions that responded to the new needs of the economic boom: modularity, durability, order, and storage capacity. Their systems were conceived not just as furniture, but as true interior architectures , capable of organizing space and adapting to different contexts.

The most iconic project remains the Congresso model bookcase (1967) , winner of the prestigious SMAU Industrial Design Award in the same year. Published several times in Domus , it was also adopted by the Vatican Archives , confirming its solidity and institutional relevance. The bookcase, with its rigorous proportions, adjustable shelves and double-sided structure, represents one of the most significant examples of how Lips Vago managed to combine architectural rationalism and functional innovation .

In the 1960s and 1970s, the company established itself as a leading player on the Italian and international scene, offering furnishings that engaged with the modernist language and integrated perfectly into executive offices, public spaces, and avant-garde domestic environments.

Today, the Lips Vago pieces, now out of production, are considered rarities on the vintage design market , appreciated by collectors, architects and galleries for their ability to combine industrial aesthetics, modularity and history .