Outdoor Living (Room)

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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.