Rolf Heide Collection
Simply. Pretty. Flexible.
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When all of Rolf Heide’s classic furniture designs are reissued under the brand rhc (Rolf Heide Collection), it is far from a case of fleeting retro-romanticism. Instead, it confirms that Heide’s design philosophy—geared towards a mobile, independent, and flexible lifestyle—is highly relevant once again today. There are two reasons for this: Rolf Heide’s designs are defined by a harmony of form and function, and through clever reduction, he made them timeless and independent of fashion trends. Thanks to the modular principle (i.e., recurring, identical building blocks), it is always possible to adapt to new living and spatial situations, allowing for unlimited expansion. All system components are compact, easily disassembled, and thus very portable. Under the rhc brand, Rolf Heide’s STAPELLIEGE with BETTKASTEN and the SOFABANK are available.
Anyone involved in exhibition and interior design, furniture design, or corporate identity concepts in Germany over the past six decades will be familiar with Rolf Heide. A true design polymath, he never denied his roots: apprenticeship as a joiner and studies at the Kiel-based Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts and Design.
Since becoming self-employed in 1960, he has been counted among Europe’s leading furniture designers and helped pioneer the discipline of residential consulting in magazines. Key milestones in his career include his work with Wohnbedarf, where the designs now reissued (and originally produced by Müller Möbelwerkstätten) were sold. The close collaboration between Rolf Heide and Müller Möbelwerkstätten began in the 1960s. Over more than 60 years, Heide designed products for Müller, conceived trade fair stands, and oversaw photo shoots. Throughout this time, Heide maintained a close dialogue with Dierk and later Jochen Müller. He also developed numerous exemplary trade fair stands and advised companies such as Bulthaup, Interlübke, and Vorwerk on design matters. His work has won numerous awards, including the Federal Design Award and the Hamburg State Prize (Karl-Schneider-Preis).
STAPELLIEGE – The Original
More than 55 years after its initial release, the STAPELLIEGE remains as relevant as ever. In times of increasingly scarce living space, it shows how wonderful life can be even on just a few square metres. The simple idea: whenever an additional sleeping option is needed, the space-saving STAPELLIEGE is immediately at hand. It is no surprise that it has received multiple design awards, most recently the prestigious German Design Award 2019 in the category Design Classics and Re-editions.
Storage Box for the STAPELLIEGE
The storage box is made from plywood, making it very stable and robust. The lid is loosely placed and fits securely within the frame. It offers ample space for bedding and often serves as a bedside table.
SOFABANK – The Living and Seating Landscape for the Whole Family
The SOFABANK complements the Rolf Heide Collection: a versatile living and seating arrangement for the entire family. Essentially, the SOFABANK consists of two parts, joined together at the boxes with angle brackets. Cushions rest loosely on a perforated plywood panel inside the box. The main design idea is the contrast between the hard box form and casually folded soft cushions. Matching side tables and shelves complete the collection.
MODULAR16 – Distinctive Aesthetics
MODULAR16 is a purist chest-of-drawers and cabinet system with a distinctive aesthetic. Its clean lines, harmonious interplay of design elements, and special details give the furniture an extraordinary appearance. The high-quality aluminium handle emphasises the design’s uniqueness. Individual chests can be placed on a base or on four feet and come with either two or four drawers, or alternatively, two doors.
Functionality and clarity are valued aspects of a new living culture. The modular furnishing programme thus enables optimal space utilisation even in small apartments. Variability is paramount: fronts can be freely designed with different door sizes and drawer elements. The extension system can be expanded with any number of components. A swivelling mirror can be attached to the outside of the cabinet and, depending on preference, can be tucked away discreetly on the side.
Good design creates a framework—the modular furnishing system offers the possibility to design every room individually and make optimal use of space. The programme’s clear lines are consistently maintained. High-quality materials, available in a wide range of colours, offer great versatility. The modular bed with two shelves and a side panel is a contemporary designer piece by day and transforms into a comfortable sleeping space by night. The spacious cabinet wall combines a wardrobe and bookshelf and can be extended infinitely like all modular elements. Its silver-grey front emphasises the functional and sober style of the furnishing programme.
Rolf Heide in an interview with DW, 2010.
"The revolutionary thing was [at that time] was certainly once their practical side, but also their appearance: the very particular shape that you not forgotten, but which somehow is also plausible. What she pursues, is not cosmetics, but logic."
Furniture designer, interior designer, exhibition designer and creative business consultant
With his timeless, functional designs in the field of interior and corporate design, the Hamburg designer Rolf Heide has made a name for himself both nationally and internationally. His most important design was without question the STAPELLIEGE. A piece of furniture for every situation. For a lifetime.
The designer's products
