Hierve: design+art+fashion

Alejandro Villarreal has designed Ropero, a glass wardrobe that completely reverses the traditional image of closed furniture and brings great creative freedom. On show at Superstudio Più in Via Tortona.

Slightly classical and somewhat surprising, Ropero is a contemporary wardrobe designed by a Mexican architect based in London also involved in product design and visual art. Ropero has several souls, "there is something architectural about it," says Alejandro Villarreal, "great physical presence and stability that means it does not have to stand against a wall. At the same time, it revives and showcases craft skills, making it a top-quality product."

Villarreal is highly sensitive to today's living style and by linking it to the historic image of the glass cabinet, conceptually flips the traditional wardrobe concept and introduces visibility into a piece of furniture that has always hidden our clothes away behind doors.

Drawer, shelf and clothes-rail units can be inserted inside this glass wardrobe with its elegant oak structure and each one can be personalised with a colour from the Pantone spectrum, in a host of solutions that allows users the utmost flexibility. Then, after using it for a while, who is to say you cannot change the colour or internal module.

With glass on all four sides, you can create unique compositions based on furnishing modules and your garments, making Ropero a complete work.
Alejandro Villarreal beside the first prototypes. The pieces will be outsourced for self-production (photo RC)
Alejandro Villarreal beside the first prototypes. The pieces will be outsourced for self-production (photo RC)
Company: Hierve Diseñería
Design team: Alejandro Villarreal (partner); Gabriela Rosas, Jesus Ramirez (co-workers)
Design phase: 2009-2012
Prototypes: Hyland Furniture Ltd. (Craftsmen: Seamus Hyland, Michael Waite)
Detail of the handle. The prototypes were produced in London
Detail of the handle. The prototypes were produced in London
Both the French oak used for the external structure and the MDF of the internal modules are certified
Both the French oak used for the external structure and the MDF of the internal modules are certified
Ropero was made by two master craftsmen, one Irish and the other Australian
Ropero was made by two master craftsmen, one Irish and the other Australian
As well as in the home, the Ropero system will work in showrooms, museums and galleries.
As well as in the home, the Ropero system will work in showrooms, museums and galleries.
The subtle design of the built-in LED emphasises the geometry of the wardrobe and adds chiaroscuro effects
The subtle design of the built-in LED emphasises the geometry of the wardrobe and adds chiaroscuro effects
Detail of the electric cable
Detail of the electric cable

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