SUSTAINABILITY
Modular Furniture

Vienna-based design studio ante up presents “up the system”, a furniture brand combining an open, modular system with an aesthetic inspired by industrial shelving structures. Manufactured in Austria, the collection emphasises adaptability and expandability, ensuring that furniture remains usable over the long term.

7/16/2026

The Vienna-based design studio ante up is expanding its portfolio to include the furniture brand up the system. As part of this initiative, product and furniture designers Benedikt Stonawski and Hauke Unterburg are applying their design philosophy to the collection of the same name, which combines functional clarity, precise construction, and a mindful use of resources. The furniture is manufactured in Austria in collaboration with regional production partners.

The idea stems from the desire for an open system that can respond flexibly to changes in everyday life. The starting point is the observation that furniture is often replaced even though it remains technically sound. New living situations, changing needs, or different spatial conditions often require new solutions. To meet this need, ante up has developed a modular system consisting of elements that can be combined, reconfigured, and expanded. Based on a series of components, the system allows for the creation of shelves, consoles, coat racks, as well as side tables and coffee tables in various configurations. Each piece of furniture is thus adaptable and part of a flexible system that can meet different requirements over many years. The brand is founded on the conviction that durability stems from adaptability.

This philosophy also shapes the design: The collection draws on the structural logic of industrial heavy-duty shelving and translates it into the home. Visible joints, precise hole patterns, and clearly defined steel profiles place the focus on the structure. Technical details are deliberately left visible, giving the furniture a functional, almost architectural look.

The openness of the structure extends to the possibilities for expansion: Additional surfaces can be added using wooden panels, recycled materials, or existing materials. The basic structure is thus designed to allow for individual adaptations to different spaces, projects, and uses. The use of existing materials also supports the goal of keeping resources in circulation for as long as possible. To this end, the form is reduced to the essentials and is crafted from powder-coated steel and stainless steel components.