# Modern Tribal Shelving The Totems for Living by OEUFFICE Channel Classic Craftsmanship By Marissa Brassfield | Published 2011-05-02 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/totems-for-living References: [yatzer](http://www.yatzer.com/Totems-for-Living-by-OEUFFICE) & [oeuffice](http://www.oeuffice.com/) These Totems for Living by OEUFFICE were created for Milan Design Week 2011 and shown at the pop-up space created by Beirut's [Carwan Gallery](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fruitinspired-furniture-collection), a gallery that Yatzer reports is the first to promote emerging Middle Eastern contemporary design. Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte and Jakub Zak from Samare Studio and [Studio Patricia Urquiola](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sculptural-bookshelf), respectively, collabored to create the Totems for Living. The limited-edition line features [sculptural shelving](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shelving-unit-01) that's meant to channel tribal totem poles in a modern context. The totems' vertical construction draws the eyes upward nicely; like traditional totem poles, each successive shelf is meant to highlight a specific object in the home, encouraging viewers to appreciate and comment on its beauty. I especially like the transparent totem in the center. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.5/10 - Popularity: 39% | Activity: 28% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/furniture) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Sculptural Shelving:** Opportunity for designing unique and artistic shelving solutions that serve both aesthetic and functional purposes. - **Modern Tribal Design:** Potential for incorporating traditional tribal elements into contemporary design, offering a fusion of cultural heritage and modern innovation. - **Limited-edition Furniture:** Demand for exclusive, one-of-a-kind furniture pieces that cater to collectors and individuals seeking unique home decor. ### Who This Affects Most - **Furniture Design:** Innovative furniture designers can explore new ways to incorporate sculptural elements and cultural influences in their creations. - **Interior Design:** Interior designers can experiment with incorporating tribal-inspired shelving as statement pieces in residential and commercial spaces. - **Art Galleries:** Art galleries can showcase limited-edition, modern tribal furniture pieces to attract collectors and enthusiasts interested in unique design. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Modern Totem-Like Vases](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/totemlike-vases.md) - [Japanese Woodwork-Inspired Shelving Units](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/altitude-shelving.md) - [Tubular Totem-Like Floor Lamps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alma-light-totem-i.md) - [Living Storage Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/treevive.md) - [Modular Organized Shelving Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unit-shelving-system.md) - [Immersive Contemporary Design Showcases](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-living-archive.md) - [Modular Contemporary Shelving Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/qurv.md) - [Modular Storage Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/original-modern-shelving.md) - [Dynamic Storage-Display Shelves](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shelf-life.md)