Milan 2014: part bookend and part light source, the Ludovica by Italian design studio Zanocchi & Starke combines two pieces of desktop furniture in one minimal package (+ slideshow).

The Ludovica by Zanocchi & Starke comes in two parts. The first is an orange aluminium frame, which on its own serves as a colourful bookend.

One side of the frame slopes from top to bottom giving it a distinctive D-shape. The slope can be used as additional surface for stacking hardcovers.

The second section is a re-chargeable battery powered light encased inside an opaque white plastic box. "We had the inspiration when we lived in Rio de Janeiro," explained the designers.

"We had an empty house with a library full of books. So we thought about something that could keep the books in order and at the same time ensure a more comfortable ambience."

The shape of the light mimics that of the frame, allowing it to be wedged inside the aluminium element. Books can then be neatly arranged in the gap below. Alternatively, it can be used as a standalone light source with four hours worth of battery life.

To recharge the light a USB port is hidden on the underside of the opaque box, which can then be plugged into a computer via the matching orange cable.

Zanocchi & Starke will be showcasing the Ludovica at the Tortona Around Design exhibition, Via Savona 53, during the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan next week.