Three Hidden Icons of Italian Design You May Not Know About
B&B Italia
Italy has long been renowned worldwide for its contributions to art, architecture, and design. Names like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Aldo Rossi immediately come to mind. However, there are also some lesser-known icons of Italian design that deserve recognition. Here we will explore three 20th-century designs that have stood the test of time yet remain hidden gems.
The Alanda Coffee Table - A Tribute to Paolo Piva
The Alanda coffee table was an iconic Italian coffee table in the 1980s. Designed by architect Paolo Piva, this sleek, geometric coffee table features a minimalist iron base with intersecting triangles that support a thick glass top.
Piva was born in 1950 in northern Italy. He studied under renowned architect Carlo Scarpa and created designs for brands like Poliform, De Sede, and Wittmann Austria. The Alanda coffee table exemplified Piva's sophisticated minimalist style and clean aesthetic.
With its timeless design, the Alanda has been reissued in recent years as a tribute to Piva after his passing in 2017. It represents an important era of Italian design and remains a sought-after piece today. The reintroduced version features recycled and recyclable materials for a contemporary, sustainable update.
The Camaleonda Sofa - An Enduring Icon
The Camaleonda sofa, designed by Mario Bellini and debuted in 1970, is considered one of the most iconic Italian furniture designs of all time. Bellini was a pioneering Italian designer who created this radically modular sofa.
The name Camaleonda refers to the sofa's ability to transform and adapt. Its interchangeable square elements allowed for countless configurations. This flexibility was visionary for the time and made the Camaleonda a symbol of contemporary interior design.
Fifty years later, the Camaleonda endures as a contemporary classic. Bellini's original design has been reproduced, only now with recycled and recyclable materials. This allows the iconic modular sofa to meet today's sustainability standards while maintaining its identity through the decades.
The Le Bambole Armchair - An Award-Winning Italian Icon
The Le Bambole Armchair, designed by Mario Bellini in 1972, is another 20th century Italian furnishings icon. Le Bambole translates to "the dolls" which refers to the armchair's smooth, rounded forms reminiscent of a doll's shape.
Bellini created the Le Bambole series to pioneer innovative comfort and flexibility. The armchair pioneered the use of polyurethane foam to achieve its signature soft, billowy silhouette. This technique gave Le Bambole its elasticity and cushioning without an internal frame.
In 1979, the Le Bambole armchair received the prestigious Compasso d'Oro design award. B&B Italia has revived production of Bellini's original design with contemporary sustainable materials. The armchair's unstructured, sensuous shape endures as a hallmark of Italian design.
Italy's contributions to groundbreaking modern design continue to inspire today. While certain designs have entered the pantheon of recognizable classics, there are also lesser-known gems that hold an important place in Italy's design history. The Alanda coffee table, Camaleonda sofa, and Le Bambole armchair represent the innovation and aesthetic vision of post-war Italian designers. Their focus on flexibility, comfort, and minimalist forms captured the spirit of their times and also stands the test of time.