Glazed Ceramics and Macro-Weaves. Outdoor Furniture by Monica Armani

17/03/2023 - Boldly coloured glazed ceramics and macro-ribbon weaves adorn B&B Italia Outdoor tables and chairs - Allure O' and Flair O' by Monica Armani revisited in an open-air version.
 
"The sculptural forms of the Allure O' tables meet the magic of glazed ceramics. The ceramic colour, so present in the collective memory, finds new life. Vibrant, reflective surfaces, depth of colour and unique transparencies renew the allure of these objects - in name and fact," says designer Monica Armani.

Using new materials, the Allure O' Outdoor table retains its monolithic shape and design in a play between straight lines and sinuous curves. The top is made of lightweight grey cement, already present in B&B Italia Outdoor collections, and enamelled stoneware, a heritage material used in the past for kitchen worktops. This surface is highly resistant to corrosive agents and stains caused by food, drink and the typical conditions of outdoor life. Handcrafted, the material is slowly fired once at a temperature of 250°C and then hand-glazed by airbrush, creating unique depth and a variety of colours, which include an ocean blue rich in pleasant shades, a clay colour and a classic dove grey.

The grey moulded concrete for the monolithic base is a choice that gives the Allure O' Outdoor table its extreme solidity and sturdiness.

"To cover the taut and elegant lines of my Flair O' chair, inspired by 1960s clothing, for the outdoor version, I thought of a kind of summer dress with sophisticated transparencies, designing a sort of sinuous and vibrant macro-lace," says Monica Armani, describing the outdoor version of the Flair O' chair.

Geometrically similar to the indoor version, the Flair O' Outdoor chair is characterised by a lightweight aluminium frame entirely covered with a meticulously crafted weave of polypropylene ribbons.

In particular, the backrest is woven using a circular frame, the tombolo, an ancient technique that originated in the region where B&B Italia is located.

To create it, Monica Armani collaborated with unPIZZO, a textile design and craft studio specialising in recovering and redeveloping traditional weaving methods revisited in a contemporary key and applied to furnishings. Two upholstered cushions complete the chair, defining its shape and adding to its comfort. The truncated cone shape of the seat cushion fits perfectly into the basic structure, while the backrest has a loose cushion that can be arranged as desired.
 
Boldly coloured glazed ceramics and macro-weaving for the garden versions of the Allure O' table and Flair O' chair, designed by Monica Armani for B&B Italia Outdoor.

B&B Italia Outdoor on Archiproducts.com