It would be silly to deny that we love living with electricity—we appreciate cold food storage, air conditioning, and reading light as much as the next person. But living with unsightly plastic electrical components? Not so much. Somehow there’s never a plug where you need one—and when you do find one, it becomes home to unruly surge protectors, power strips, and tangles upon tangles of cords. We’ve devoted countless hours to hiding and finessing all this visual clutter. But what if the solution was simpler?
Bocci—the multidisciplinary design studio, research lab, and factory founded by design and architecture polymath Omer Arbel—alighted on an astonishingly simple solution: sockets that are beautiful enough to be displayed anywhere. Enter the 22 System: Launched in 2009 and composed of mounting plates and interchangeable components that include everything from the familiar type-B outlet to USB-C (familiar to us as the iPhone charging outlet, Bocci’s USB-C is 45w, providing a quick charge), the 22 System proves that components don’t need to be a dreaded eyesore in the home.
The 22 System has long been available in four neutrals (white, black, almond, and grey), but as of this spring, the team is launching a suite of six new colors inspired by the Pacific Northwest, particularly the palette of Arbutus Tree, 1922 by Canadian post-Impressionist painter Emily Carr. Especially well suited to design schemes inspired by the natural world, these colorful components make the argument that even sockets can make a statement.
Take a look at some of our favorite options:
Above: The 22 System can be installed into almost any surface. Available in three kits—for install in drywall, concrete, and multi-material, which includes tile, glass, stone, and wood—the System is a beautiful and functional addition to any room.
Above: Unlike traditional electrical plates, the 22 System gives you the flexibility to stagger the placement of components to better fit your home’s needs. Pictured are the Drywall Double Outlet/USB-C in the Grey and Green colorways, $475.
Above: We love an unexpected dose of color. The 22 System components are as much an intentional design detail as they are a utilitarian necessity.
Above: The components pop seamlessly into any of the 22 System mounting plates. Pictured here: The Multi-Material Double Outlet/USB-C, $680.
Above: The 22 System blends seamlessly into surfaces of all kinds—and if you decide you need to switch the type of component, say from a USB to an ethernet port? The 22 System Tool ($45) required for all 22 System installations, lets you remove any devices from the mounting plates without disturbing the surface of the wall.
To browse all offerings from Bocci’s 22 System, head here.
