This extraordinary bookcase model Congresso was designed and produced by Lips Vago in 1967, representing one of the most innovative and iconic modular systems of Italian design of the 1960s.
Winner of the prestigious SMAU Industrial Design Award in the same year, the Congresso bookcase immediately established itself as a symbol of a rational and functional approach, capable of combining architecture and furniture into a single design gesture.
The version presented here is the XL, the rarest and most sought-after of all, today considered a true collector’s object.
Unlike the standard version with 5 shelves per side, this imposing configuration reaches 3 meters in height and features 7 shelves per side, for a total of 14 double-sided shelves.
The double-sided structure makes it a sculptural piece of great impact, perfect as a central divider within lofts, galleries, and public spaces, or as an architectural installation capable of redefining space.
A historical detail of absolute importance is that these bookcases were adopted by the Vatican Archives, confirming their solidity and the institutional vocation of a system conceived to endure over time and to contain repositories of knowledge.
Today they have become extremely rare on the market: we currently 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.
Made of military green steel, typical of Lips Vago’s industrial language, the bookcase retains all of its original expressive power: the shelves are adjustable and sliding with a simple gesture, allowing extreme versatility of use. The solid base guarantees stability, while the rigorous proportions confirm the rationalist and minimalist vocation of the project.
Published several times in magazines such as Domus, the Congresso bookcase is today an icon of Italian design, out of production for decades. This XL version is an extremely rare model, virtually unobtainable on the international market, and represents a true opportunity for collectors, galleries, and architects seeking a unique piece capable of combining history, functionality, and sculptural power.
Perfect condition, with slight signs of time and small spots of rust that give it an extraordinary original patina, bearing witness to its authenticity and lived-in beauty.
NB: The indicated price refers to one module measuring 100 x 300 cm.
 
Product Name: Congresso XL bookcase produced by Lips Vago
Designer: Lips Vago
Year of Design: 1967
Style: Italian Rationalism and Modernism of the 1960s
Main Materials: Military green painted steel
Distinctive Design: Double-sided structure 3 meters high with 7 shelves per side (14 shelves total), solid base, adjustable and sliding shelves, rigorous and minimalist architectural lines
Dimensions: Height 300 cm | Width 100 cm | Depth 70 cm | 4 modules available for a total of 400 linear cm
Comfort: Maximum functionality and storage capacity, with adjustable shelves allowing versatile use in different contexts
Typical Use: Central divider for lofts and galleries, furnishing 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, symbol of Italian modular and functional design of the 1960s
Versatility: Perfect for both contemporary environments and historical contexts, usable as a bookcase or as a sculptural architectural divider
Current Condition of the Design: Excellent vintage condition with slight signs of time and small rust spots that provide a highly charming original patina
Additional Notes: Please note that this object is in excellent vintage condition. Minor signs of time may be present, which do not affect its functionality. We invite you to consider these characteristics before purchase.
 
Lips Vago was one of the most important Italian companies in the production of modular metal systems in the postwar period, based in Milan. Born from the meeting between the industrial tradition of Lips, a historic Dutch company specialized in storage and security systems (safes), and the Italian company Vago, the firm established itself from the 1950s onward as a reference point in the production of metal furniture for offices, archives, libraries, and institutional spaces.
The strength of Lips Vago lay in the combination 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 merely as furniture, but as true interior architectures, capable of organizing space and adapting to different contexts.
The most iconic project remains the Congresso bookcase model (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. With its rigorous proportions, adjustable shelves, and double-sided structure, the bookcase represents one of the most significant examples of how Lips Vago succeeded in uniting architectural rationalism and functional innovation.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the company established itself as a key player on the Italian and international scene, offering furnishings that dialogued with the modernist language and integrated perfectly into executive offices, public spaces, and avant-garde domestic interiors.
Today, Lips Vago pieces, long 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.