Outdoor Living (Room)

Text by

Elisabetta Donati de Conti

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Ph. credits Tanja Viganò

Life in the open air without stinting on comfort: the new collections of padded garden furniture

Over the last few months we’ve fallen in love with our terraces and gardens, which have turned into actual living spaces, albeit often less considered (and thought-out). The time has now come to lay claim to them again and to make them into perfect spaces, not just for times of conviviality, but also for those moments of relaxation as close as possible to the scents of plants and the tweeting of birds.

Who said that textiles and cushions could only be used to decorate our interiors and make them cosy? Technology in the textile field is now so advanced that the padded elements of small sofas, armchairs, chairs, pouffes and rockers can be left out in all weathers, boasting a huge range of coverings, which each company reinterprets according to their own brand style.

The Spanish outdoor furnishing brand Calma’s catalogue features locally made products only, for instance, and it has developed a fabric very similar to that used for umbrellas to cover its small Lou easy chair, designed by Inma Bermudez. Underneath this customisable top layer, there is a second, waterproof layer, the underneath part of which has a netted breathable texture, which prevents the inside of the large, padded cushion from getting wet. The cover can, in any case, be very easily removed, thanks to the cunning stratagem of the three rear zips.

21_SU_Calma_TV_001 — Calma, Ph. credits Tanja Viganò

Connubia, the ‘essential’ arm of the Friuli-based Calligaris brand, brought a wide range of outdoor products to “supersalone” – in various sizes and modular combinations, and therefore ideal even for smaller spaces. It is a nod to a fresh look in which the colours are the stars of the entire collection. The two- or three-seater YO! Sofa has a tubular metal frame covered with a woven reinforced propylene fabric (available in four different colours and finishes), while the seat cushions and the backrest (available in twelve different colours) have a waterproof PVC lining and are covered in water-repellent, mould proof and stainproof Sunbrella® fabric, which offers special protection from UV rays, thus preventing fading. It goes perfectly with the Sunny cushions or the Pof footstool, which is easily moved around thanks to its practical rubber handle, to create conversation areas or open-air relaxation spaces.

21_SU_Connubia_TV_002 — Connubia, Ph. credits Tanja Viganò

More than any other Italian company, Emu has its roots in exterior furnishing know-how, both in the professional and the private sectors. In particular, the Cannolè lounge chair, showcased in an elegant black & white version, is part of a seating collection designed by Anton Cristell and Emanuel Gargano and, while the tubular steel ensures the solidity of the structure, the comfy, enveloping cushions are made of polyurethane rubber to which a layer of polyester fibre resin has been added, all packaged into an internal water-resistant internal slipcover.

The colourful new products at the fair included the collection from Roda, showcasing a new outdoor lifestyle concept with the accent on comfort, in shades ranging from white to coral, by way of gradations of pink. The Spool, sofa, marked out by the vibrant effect of the woven backrest, dialogued with the more monolithic Double pouffe. The same interplay of light interweaving and volumetric force was also recreated on the vertical wall of the stand, where a larger version of the same pouffe could be seen, paired with the Laze high-back lounge chair, two different spatial proposals crying out to be played around with and personalise our homes outdoors too.

21_SU_Roda_TV_001 — Roda, Ph. credits Tanja Viganò

Kristalia also kicked off with outdoor furnishing at “supersalone” with its reinterpretation of the Palco modular and configurable seating system, designed by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin of Industrial Facility. This new version, with an aluminium platform, can be totally disassembled and recycled, making for responsible end-of-life management, while taking account of the new contemporary demands – the enjoyment of open-air spaces while not skimping on comfort or the technical performance of the materials employed – seen here in blues and azures.

21_SU_Kristalia_TV_012 — Kristalia, Ph. credits Tanja Viganò

Fast went for a total pink look on its stand, showcasing the Ria collection designed by Alberto Lievore, which includes an aluminium dining lounge chair in either a semi-woven or woven version, a two- or three-seater sofa, a lounge chair and a daybed, which comes in woven only.

21_SU_Fast_TV_010 — Fast, Ph. credits Tanja Viganò

Pedrali has made chairs its warhorse, bringing several different pieces designed for the outdoors to “supersalone.” The Panarea chair, presented in two different versions both in terms of colour and size - large or small, rust or white – is perfect for dinner on a terrace overlooking the sea or on under a romantic country portico. Hand-woven polypropylene cord wraps around the tubular steel frame, while the water-repellent polyurethane-padded seat cushion is covered with a fabric made from the same yarn as the weave. The Reva Twist sofa and armchair also feature woven fabric, dialoguing with an aluminium frame in this case.

The garden chair is transformed into a playful suspended swing seat in the Lisa Swing from S-Cab, designed by Marcello Ziliani. It comes with either a self-supporting frame or with customised hooks and a powder-coated tubular steel structure, while the other parts are made of woven rope. It becomes the star of the show wherever it’s placed, perhaps set off by the “grounded” Lisa Sofa Club sofa.

21_SU_S-Cab_TV_007 — S-Cab, Ph. credits Tanja Viganò

Day Bed, showcased by the Veneto-based brand Roberti, certainly makes its presence felt. Part of the Oasi collection, it’s a round, canopied lounger that becomes an enclosed nest thanks to a rope curtain that creates plays of light, shadow and nuanced colours. It’s a romantic piece of furniture that doesn’t skimp on technical components: the frame is in powder-coated steel, the top in Batyline and the decorative ropes are in Round Trendyrope. For a break from privacy and more convivial moments, the Charme range of chairs and small sofas go beautifully with it.

21_SU_Roberti_TV_005 — Roberti, Ph. credits Tanja Viganò

The entire Talenti stand – the company is a sector leader – is a paen to the outdoor life: the large modular Argo sofa, designed by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba, is part of a collection entirely inspired by the theme of wooden boxes. The large, soft cushions rest on a structure made from Accoya, a type of wood obtained from conifers using a process known as acetylation, which makes it ideal for outdoor applications and an ideal replacement for tropical hardwoods in this context.

21_SU_Talenti_TV_003 — Talenti, Ph. credits Tanja Viganò

The Italian contract specialist firm Contardi also brought a collection of outdoor furniture to “supersalone.” The coloured Calybabu pouffes, available in an extremely wide range of fabrics and patterns, are just as suitable for the gardens of refined country restaurants as they are for hotel bars under the porticoes of stunning Italian palazzos. These chairs go perfectly with the range of Calypso lights, all the components of which are made of high resistance materials, from rope similar to that used in the nautical field, to the glass of the luminaires and the textiles, all tested for rain and wind resistance.