Downtown Design
redazione 24/02/2023

Scenarios of life en plein air

Airy volumes and essential lines: outdoor settings take on lightness thanks to design that establishes a relationship with nature, evoking and respecting it through very sustainable solutions

Having to all effects become true living space, outdoor settings are enhanced by sofas, chairs, cots and chaises longues designed with recyclable materials chosen to last in time.

Costiera (on cover) is the new yacht collection designed by Christophe Pillet for Ethimo, an unusual path into the world of yacht design and outdoor decor. A bespoke project that combines aesthetic and functional characteristics in harmony: fabrics, ample proportions and materials of the highest technical quality, in welcoming forms that are perfect in the furnishings of floating lounge areas. Costiera stands out for the large cushions with upholstered parts that define the structure. The selection of materials and finishes and the range of fabrics reveal a taste for nautical heritage, reinterpreted in a contemporary way.

Kasbah by Living Divani, Design David Lopez Quincoces

Kasbah by Living Divani, Design David Lopez Quincoces

Living Divani, with an eye on open-air encounters and gatherings, sharing experiences and relaxing, presents Kasbah, a modular sofa by David Lopez Quincoces, with an informal style and a horizontal approach, displaying a structure in solid teak (with protective oil finish, resistant to UV rays and water, and a covering in outdoor fabric to ensure durability).

Filo by Paola Lenti, Design Francesco Rota - Photo © Sergio Chimenti

Filo by Paola Lenti, Design Francesco Rota – Photo © Sergio Chimenti

Paola Lenti uses an unusual covering for the structure of Filo, the new outdoor seating collection designed by Francesco Rota, including a chair and a two or three-set sofa, suitable even for small outdoor spaces. Twiggy (in a single completely recyclable material) replaces traditional covering fabrics with a sequence of parallel threads to can generate more formal decorations, with regular stripes of equal or different size, or in multicolored versions.

Nooch by B&B Italia, Design Piero Lissoni - Photo © Tommaso Sartori

Nooch by B&B Italia, Design Piero Lissoni – Photo © Tommaso Sartori

Piero Lissoni and B&B Italia continue their research on sustainability in the outdoor sector with Nooch, a modular seating system whose fundamental characteristic is the tubular structure in recycled aluminium, a light, sturdy material ready for infinite recycling. The iconic feature of the collection is the intersection of the structural parts, with a particular curve obtained by bending the tubing. 

Kata by Arper, Design Altherr Désile Park - Photo © Salva Lopez

Kata by Arper, Design Altherr Désile Park – Photo © Salva Lopez

Kata, designed by Altherr Désile Park, is based on principles of sustainability and circular economy. The first lounge chair by Arper in solid wood, it evokes the image of traditional seating in woven straw and wood, reinterpreted through the use of sustainable contemporary solutions. The technological fabric adapts perfectly to the seat, reducing production scrap to a minimum.

Islablanca by Gandiablasco, Design José A. Gandía Blasco Canales

Islablanca by Gandiablasco, Design José A. Gandía Blasco Canales

Islablanca is a collection by Gandiablasco of outdoor furnishings, created by José A. Gandía-Blasco Canales. With slim straight lines and a very sturdy structure, the collection is composed of cots, armchairs, sofas and tables. Islablanca has a modular design based on an original construction system that combines welded aluminium sections with cut and crafted profiles, permitting full optimization of the production process.

Club by Zanotta, Design Prospero Rasulo

Club by Zanotta, Design Prospero Rasulo

The Club sofa and chair, combined with the Teti table, designed by Prospero Rasulo, have an important place in the outdoor collection of Zanotta. The structure of the seats in steel tubing, wrapped with PVC cord, determines an airy volume and enveloping form that provides ergonomic support.

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