The soul of the company the internal Research & Development Centre, a place for brainstorming, creativity, cultural exchange, and continual research. New products, unique shapes, and technological materials are the direct result of the on-going research and creativity of talented people working here. The success brought B&B Italia being presented with numerous prestigious awards, including 4 Compasso D‘Oro prizes, which is the most prestigious honor in the field of Italian industrial design.

Today B&B Italia SPA has several brands/divisions: B&B Italia, B&B Italia Outdoor, B&B Italia Project, and Maxalto.

• The company is producing beautiful modern design in two of its divisions: B&B Italia and Maxalto. The two collections have a unique brand identity, yet expressing the same philosophy, a balanced blend of innovation and design, unique style, and remarkable elegance. B&B Italia products are unique pieces of furniture wearing a modern look, interpreting contemporary trends.
• Maxalto was born in 1975 at the hands of two great architects, Afra and Tobia Scarpa, and is reflecting a transformation from classical style to modern. Scarpa will shape the identity of the brands signing all collections up until 1992. The name itself tells the philosophy of the brand - “Massa Alta” (Maxalto) in the regional dialect of Veneto means “very high, the highest”: all articles are made of the best quality materials, where woods are chosen piece by piece and worked diligently in the hands of craftsmen to offer best products by design, quality and materials made.
• Its products can be placed in home environments (B&B Italia Collection), outdoor spaces (B&B Italia Outdoor Collection), and furniture for offices/public areas (B&B Italia Project Collection). Every outdoor piece of furniture tells a unique story, made of exclusive materials and avant-garde technologies, offer comfort and aesthetic.
• B&B Italia Project Collection is oriented toward the business sector, complying with the strictest quality standards and designing unique pieces of modern furniture for offices, restaurants, hotels, and public spaces, featuring B&B Italia's contemporary spirit.
• Additionally, the company has created a separate Contract Division dedicated to projects made from A to Z. The Division is service-oriented managing and coordinating complex interior projects: from planning, engineering, development to logistics and installation. The Division operates in sectors like hotel/hospitality, retail, offices, public institutions, and cruise liners.

The company has concurred international fame, today present in more than 80 countries towards owned flagship stores and professional exclusive retail points of sales. Due to its leading role in terms of design, quality, and prestige, B&B Italia was chosen as a founding member of the Altagamma Organization. A distinguished association that brings together leading Italian companies in the luxury sector, who are leaders in their fields and carry the Italian culture and style throughout the world.

Product Development

A path that leads to the development of the industrial design culture, from project to product, through meticulous research, development, and innovative technology.

Research and technology are the two strategic pillars that guide B&B Italia's development policy. The company invests considerable human and financial resources into research, precisely over 3% of the corporate turnover every year.

Technology pursues two objectives:

1. to provide a practical benefit for the client in terms of product quality and comfort
2. to optimize the production processes through the ongoing experimentation with new materials and technology

This approach makes B&B Italia the first “industry for design”.

Every product is the result of ongoing and intensive work with the best designers, part of the internal team, and outsourced. Designers express their creative vision by drawing upon corporate know-how. Design studios, architects, and companies cooperate synergistically to enhance B&B Italia's unique DNA and personality in an ever-innovative key.

Sketches, drawings, and renderings are the first step of interaction between the designer and the R&D Centre. Afterward, the R&D Centre guides the project to ensure consistency with brand values and controls the prototyping process by drawing on the competencies of expert craftsmen to achieve industrial solutions. Every product must express the corporate DNA style. Antonio Citterio, Patricia Urquiola, Naoto Fukasawa, Zaha Hadid, Mario Bellini, Jeffrey Bernett, Gaetano Pesce, Paolo Piva, Studio Kairos are some of the world-famous designers who have designed products for B&B Italia.

Production Process

B&B Italia and Maxalto products are produced in facilities located at Novedrate and Misinto, in northern Milan.

1 The Factory in Novedrate – the production of upholstery furniture

The industrial approach to the production of sofas defined by the brilliant mind and vision of Piero Ambrogio Busnelli, founder of B&B Italia, is perfect to date, after half a century. In the 1960s Brianza was the region of furniture manufacturers, and the entire sector was based on manufacturing and craftsmanship. Piero Ambrogio Busnelli, instead, wanted to industrialize the production process to establish the company in foreign markets. It was in London, that a minor detail caught his attention: a machine that created and “spat out” rubber ducks. In this process, he saw a vision and an opportunity. That machine cold mold polyurethane, injecting it as a foam into a form. Later, he finds a way to adapt this process and implemented it into making sofas. The method has persisted virtually unchanged and still is the best technology available to construct padded furniture.

Today the Novedrate facilities cover a total indoor surface area of over 27,000 m2, and all the production phases of padded furniture, including the innovative foaming plant, are carried out here.

The use of cold-molded polyurethane foam, a technology B&B Italia was the first in the furniture sector to perfect and adopt in 1966, radically innovated the design concepts of upholstered models.

Starting by making use of a metal load-bearing frame that guarantees the best results in terms of product durability and resistance, these frames are integrated with all those elements (elastic straps, springs, reinforcing, etc.) that enhance product performance in terms of comfort and functionality.

The frame is sunk in polyurethane injected into the mold that reproduces the exact shape of the product.

The polyurethane cold molding process makes use of two different liquid polymers that are simultaneously injected. The chemical reaction determines the expansion and solidification of the foam. The foam density depends on the proportion of the two polymers in the blend.

This production technology compared to a standard frame (timber frame with shaped polyurethane blocks) provides several advantages:

-         using metal frames immersed in polyurethane guarantees solidity, resistance, functionality, and durability in time

-         inserting elastic straps and springs ensures the highest standards of comfort

-         fiberglass or preheated aluminum molds allows to reproduce easily organic shapes

The optimal level of padding is defined during a prototyping phase that is closely followed by both, the R&D Centre, and the designer.

The entire production of B&B Italia and Maxalto upholstered furniture and seats is carried out at the Novedrate facility, at all phases:

1/ Molds storage used to produce upholstered and padded items, besides storing “historical” models that are not on the market anymore.

2/ Structures storage of all raw materials and semi-finished products neeed for product manufacturing.

3/ Foaming production systems intended to create foam models for all products. Foaming is a process that B&B Italia performs inhouse, and which envisages the use of polyurethane without Freon gas. B&B Italia defines the ideal density of the foam for every product (by establishing the blend of polymers for each product) to guarantee the absolute comfort.

4/ Fabrics and leather collection storage, but also cutting and stitching of coverings for various models.

5/ Quality Control is made to supervision all products ready for delivery, including product check to avoid any defects and insertion of all technical documents regarding the product (“product fact sheets”).

6/ Packaging for all items are assembled with their related padding and upholstery.

2 “Fabbrica Sistemi” - automation and efficiency

Since its first wardrobe Sisamo in 1984, the production of living room and bedroom systems has been carried out inhouse.

The “Systems Factory” stands out for its high degree of industrialization, stretching over 11,000 m2, and centralizes the entire production of B&B Italia's wall systems for living room and wardrobes with systems dedicated to various processing phases of assembled products. Moreover, the facility and production processes are studied to ensure the health and comfort of workers utilizing acoustic and thermal isolation and ensuring good natural lighting.

The factory takes various types of semi-finished components, combines them with different materials and finishes, and transforms them into many combinations of ready-to-use finished products. This process is achieved through an intentionally flexible set up, that is adapted to various design and technological challenges required by the constantly changing market.

The key processing methods of this production facility include:

1/ Squaring and edging: automated panel squaring process and application of bands with subsequent hand finish and brushing of all furniture. Every product is entirely hand finished.

2/ Satin-finish: all products of B&B Italia are made with non-toxic water paintings.

3/ Assembly of furniture: all products are checked item by item to make sure it is complete, and no defects are presented.

4/ Packaging: after a scrupulous checking, all items are carefully packaged.

3 Maxalto Factory – the convergence of craftsmanship and industry

Since its birth in 1975, Maxalto has distinguished itself for excellent wood processing by making use of expert craftsmen who are assisted by cutting edge industrial techniques. Altogether guarantee constant production and high-quality standards.

The Maxalto factory covers a surface area of over 10,500 m2 in Misinto and, besides respecting nature, it coexists with nature. Indeed, it is situated in Groane Park where strict and precise checks are carried to guarantee and certify that the natural heritage is protected.

Wood is the collection's distinctive element. All wood processing phases are performed in Misinto, making use of the professional expertise and competence of qualified craftsmen.

The main wood processing phases include:

1/ Preparation of veneers to ensure excellent aesthetic quality of the products and is based on various operative phases: the choice of fitches to produce the piece of furniture, selection and combination of color tints, jointing, trimming, sheet jointing, and numbering.

2/ Squaring – edging: panel squaring process and application of bands, a subsequent hand finish, and brushing of all furniture. Every product is entirely hand finished.

3/ Polishing is entirely performed by hand, making use of an innovative system to safeguard both environment and employees.

4/ Assembly of all Maxalto products are dispatched assembled. This procedure guarantees quality control of the product, which is the outcome of “piece by piece” customization.

5/ Packaging is last stage made with care and good-quality materials to ensure secure transportation to the final destination.

Here are the 10 Reasons to love B&B Italia products

1. Authenticity

B&B Italia is a name that concurs for its authenticity. Each product released under the company’s brands B&B Italia and Maxalto is supplied with an authenticity passport (Product data sheet-Guarantee) stating that the product is original and aligned to B&B Italia SPA quality standards. Moreover, it is providing full information on how the product was made: materials, maintenance, warranty, manufacturer, and designer.

The production process is controlled at every stage, from the processing of raw materials to lacquered products and woods, and packaging, all to ensure that the result will comply with quality standards. The materials and technologies are an integral part of the production process, designed to highlight both its own identity and customer requirements. Promoting the intrinsic quality, made to last over time, has always ensured the excellence of B&B Italia products.

2. Quality and Durability 

Unique industrial production techniques, know-how, and high-quality materials used in the production of upholstery furniture, altogether work to give a product that is far more durable than the best standards in the sector. B&B Italia guarantees the frame of its padded furniture (sofas, armchairs, chairs, and beds) for 10 years from the manufacture date (as stated in the “Product data sheet - Guarantee”).

The production technology of “polyurethane foam moldings”, introduced in the sector by the founder of the company itself in 1966, revolutionized the industrial production of upholstered items, guaranteeing higher and long-lasting quality. Precisely, the process entails “sinking” a steel frame in the mold and afterward filled by cold injection with a particular polyurethane.

B&B Italia guarantees against any manufacturing defect accessories, upholstering covers, feet, and mechanisms up to 26 months from the manufacture date (also stated on the enclosed “Product data sheet - Guarantee”).

3. Fabrics

B&B Italia's textile collection is the result of in-depth research and collaborations with the best designers and fabricants existing on the market today, often on an exclusive-rights basis. The research and development are made in detail, exploring different weaves (trama IT) and natural and synthetic yarns (filati, IT) to get the most unique, exclusive, and harmonious fabrics that B&B Italia / Maxalto will merge into any home environment. The extensive range of fabrics and leather collection is designed to meet the demands of an international market. 

Fabrics undergo a set of quality tests to assess their quality and durability: resistance to abrasion, formation of pilling, light fastness, resistance to traction, resistance to laceration and to rubbing. To further improve the performance of a fabric, the company may decide to apply additional finishing treatments, such as:

- stain proofing: a chemical finish by soaking the fabric with macromolecular substances that will lately prevent liquids from being absorbed into fibers.

- sanforization: a particular treatment process, applied usually on cotton and linen (fabrics from natural fibers) aimed to stabilize a fabric; a method of stretching, shrinking, and fixing the woven cloth in both length and width before cutting and producing, to reduce the shrinkage which would otherwise occur after washing. 

- buffing: a mechanical finish process aimed to get a "peach skin" effect; in practice, the fabric surface is exposed to abrasion to achieve a softer feel.

- fireproofing: a chemical finish, obtained by impregnation or back-coating of a fabric with products that enhance the resistance to fire.

4. Natural Leather

B&B Italia selects the best natural leathers and preserves the original and natural softness to guarantee its inimitable aesthetic and tactile qualities as well as its durability. B&B Italia is selecting the very best quality leathers obtained from calves and bulls raised on the territory of the European community. This guarantees proper animal care, from its birth to raising, nutrition and afterwards the use in food and other industries (like furnishing and fashion production).

Moreover, it has being proved that the beauty and quality of a leather depends on the origin and the way the animal was bred. To preserve the excellence of these raw materials, provide care, and emphasize its natural beauty, the producer is applying special treatments and finishes. It is to be said though, that such natural features, including traces of an animal’s natural living habitat, like scars, insect stings, corns, wrinkles, shading, differences in grain, and more, are features that proof the product’s natural quality and are, therefore, to be considered essential elements of a leather (not defects).

However, it is the duty of B&B Italia’s Production Department to ensure the utmost care during the leather cutting phase to avoid placing said marks (scars, irregular grain, etc) on the most visible parts of the product.

5. Woods

To maintain and emphasize the beauty of a natural wood B&B Italia creates for its furnishings veneer surfaces with an open pore finish. This way it highlights the distinctive characteristics of the wood and its natural quality.

When making finishing in light oak, dark oak, or smoky oak, the surface of the wood is first subjected to a brushing process that highlights the grain of the wood and afterward is applied a clear finish to protect and seal the surface. For the tinted grey oak, the color applied is designed to see through the original characteristics of the wood itself.

B&B Italia is using solely North American White Oak, one of the finest North American hardwood lumbers and one of the most spectacular trees. This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This wood material typically has a straight grain, with a coarse, uneven texture. Commonly used to produce cabinetry, furniture, interior trim, flooring, boatbuilding, barrels, and veneer.

B&B Italia is also using Rosewood native from Latin America, best known as "Brazilian rosewood", arriving from cultivations that are controlled and managed by local governments. (Rosewood is now protected worldwide; all 300 species are placed under trade restrictions.) This noble wood has a unique grain and chromatic reflections, a strong sweet smell that persists for many years, being inimitable among wood types. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, being suitable for luxury furniture and luxury flooring, but also musical instruments (particularly guitars) and turnery (billiard cues, fountain pens, black pieces in chess sets), etc. 

Teak, which is solely used for the outdoor collection, is one of the most precious tropical hardwood species, durable for its exceptional resistance to atmospheric agents. It contains natural oily resin that makes it waterproof, termite, and pest resistant, thus useful in exposed locations. 

6. Lacquer

All paints used by B&B Italia and Maxalto are non-toxic water-based paintings, designed and tested in compliance with environment-friendly regulations in force concerning emissions. Their composition ensures a low percentage of harmful emissions. Compared to a normal paint solvent, it releases mostly water vapor and reduces up to 95% the emission of dust and particles, which are often the main cause of different allergies and skin irritations.

The research and development team selects lacquers through a meticulous process to ensure a wide range of colors and excellent quality. These paints are designed to achieve the best results in terms of resistance, aging, scratching, abrasion, and make them applicable on different wood surfaces used by B&B Italia.

To enhance the linearity and smoothness of some furniture pieces, B&B Italia uses satin and glossy finishes, which helps to highlight these features; for a modern and minimalistic appeal, other times the preference is given to matt finishes.

7. Metals

B&B Italia gives preference the some of the most durable and universally used metals: steel and aluminum. Both these materials support excellently different coating applications and offering several aesthetical solutions: chroming, brushing, varnishing.

Experience and research led to the selection of components and painting cycle to ensure varnished finishes provide excellent results as resistance to aging, scratch, abrasion, and fading, overall, the highest guarantee for the product.

Galvanic finishes (chrome) have strong resistance, excellent aesthetic impact, and anti-repellent features. Being an ambient-oriented company, B&B Italia is cooperating with leading companies in this sector that comply with the environmental regulations in force.

8. Marble

B&B Italia proposes several types of marble, among the most used and appreciated: Emperador Dark, Black Marquinia, Portoro (Nero Portoro), and White Calacatta.

Based on their use, B&B Italia selected two different finishes: a matt finish that enhances the porosity of the material and undergoes a stain-proofing treatment that slows down the absorption of liquids; and a glossy finish, to highlight the beauty of evident veins and chromatic reflections, providing at the same time a protective treatment with polyester-based paint that seals the surface and ensure waterproof resistance against all liquids.

9. Certifications

B&B Italia obtained its first corporate quality system certification on 18.12.1997, for the lines of upholstered furniture and furnishing accessories with certificate N° 118 I.C.I.L.A./C.I.S.Q. Afterward, B&B Italia decided to adapt its corporate organization to obtain the quality certification for all its proprietary factories, in compliance with standard UNI EN I.S.O. 9001:2015. It made the priority and essential objective of its quality system to apply, update and consolidate the overall rules established by the company to protect customer satisfaction.

10. Collaboration with best Designers and Architects around the World

B&B Italia always knew how to consolidate and increase its creative and qualitative value, offering an authentic and contemporary style. The cultural lifestyle arises out of a wide selection of products linked to contemporary culture and globalization. This important legacy B&B Italia is sharing since the very beginning with many leading Italian and international designers, working together to amplify the collection range we can acquire today for our home interiors.

Some of the best names from the world of design and their collections created for B&B Italia brands:

Antonio Citterio

Antonio Citterio started his design office in 1972 and graduated architecture at the Milan Polytechnic (1975). Between 1987 and 1996 he worked in association with Terry Dwan and, together, they designed buildings in Europe and Japan. In 2000, along with Patricia Viel, he founded a practice for architecture and interior design, developing international long-term projects at all scales. Currently, he works in the industrial design sector with Italian and foreign companies such as Ansorg, Arclinea, Axor-Hansgrohe, B&B Italia, Maxalto, Flexform, Flos, Hermès, Kartell, Sanitec (Geberit Group), Technogym, Vitra, and more.

In 1987 and in 1994 Antonio Citterio was awarded the prize Compasso d’Oro. Since 2006 he has been a full professor of Architectural Design at the Mendrisio Academy of Architecture (Switzerland). In 2008 he was honored by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce of London, which gave him the title of Royal Designer for Industry.

He designed collections for:

-         B&B Italia: sofa Diesis 40, small table Pianura, ottoman Mirto

-         B&B Italia Outdoor: sofa Hybrid, table Ginepro, ottoman Frank

-         B&B Italia Project: armchair & sofa Jean, armchair George

Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby

Internationally acclaimed designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby founded their London-based studio in 1996 after graduating from London’s Royal College of Art. Their multidisciplinary practice challenges boundaries of industrial design, architecture, and art, creating collections for Vitra, B&B Italia, Cappellini, Venini, and Flos, public commissions, and gallery editions.

Both being royal designers for industry, were together awarded in 2004 the prestigious Jerwood Applied Arts Prize. Both are honorary Doctor of Arts, have lectured internationally, and their works are held in permanent collections around the world: at the V&A London Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, London’s Design Museum, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

They have designed several collections for B&B Italia: small tables Buttom, small table Tobi-Ishi, table Tobi-Ishi; but also, small table and table Tobi-Ishi for B&B Italia Outdoor.

Nipa Doshi & Jonathan Levien

Doshi Levien is a design studio of international fame founded by two designers Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien. Nipa grew up in India and studied design at the National Institute of Design. Jonathan trained in fine cabinet making followed by industrial design. They met at the royal college of art and have been working together for over 10 years in their London studio.

In 2008 Nipa and Jonathan were awarded the prestigious Future Legends of Design by the Cooper Hewitt National Museum of Design in New York. They have been invited to be keynote speakers and lectured internationally, been on important design juries, and have taught at the royal college of art.

Nipa and Jonathan bring together many worlds in their work. Working across disciplines and industries, Doshi Levien's work celebrates the hybrid and explores the coming together of cultures, technology, industrial design, and fine craftsmanship. They have created work for industry leaders like Moroso, Kvadrat, B&B Italia, Cappellini, Camper, Swarovski, Galerie Kreo, museums, and cultural institutions.

For B&B Italia they created armchair Do-Maru, small tables Maru, ottoman Tabour; while for B&B Italia Outdoor we have armchair and sofa Bay, ottoman Tabour.

Gabriele & Oscar Buratti

Gabriele Buratti, architect and university professor at the Politecnico di Milano (2003-2010) along with the architect Oscar Buratti, formed the architecture and design studio BURATTI ARCHITETTI. Together they have worked on many different projects, from architectural buildings to urban areas and interior design, creating objects of design, furniture and projecting different exhibitions/showrooms.

In the retail sector, he collaborated with brands like La Perla, Automobili Lamborghini, Husqvarna Motorcycles, BMW, Ducati, Oroblù/LeBourget, Acerbis Italia, Tre Marie/Barilla, designing their showrooms in the biggest cities around the world. In the field of industrial design, they collaborated with names like Acerbis International, Alias, Antonio Lupi, B&B Italia, Gallotti & Radice, Living Divani, Paola Lenti, Poliform, Poltrona Frau, Porada, Porro, Roca, Tecno, Vondom, and other.

For B&B Italia were designed: bed Alys, chair Doyl, small tables Nix.

Gaetano Pesce

Born in 1939 in La Spezia, Italy. Educated in Venice, Gaetano Pesce has become prominent in several fields – architecture, interior design, graphics, film.

He realized numerous projects in architecture, building at the same time a strong reputation in industrial design and furnishings, including the development of a series of now-iconic chairs, like the Up Series, tables, and lamps. Gaetano Pesce’s work is represented in the permanent collections of leading museums internationally, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the Centre Canadien d’Architecture in Montréal.

He designed for B&B Italia armchair and sofa Serie Up.

Jean-Marie Massaud

Since the beginning of his career, Jean-Marie Massaud has been working on an extensive range of projects, stretching from architecture to objects, from a one-off project to serial ones, from macro environment down to micro contexts. Major brands such as Air France, Axor, Mdf Italia, Poltrona Frau, and Toyota have solicited his ability to mix comfort and elegance, heritage, generosity, and distinction. His quest for lightness synthesizes three broader stakes: individual and collective fulfillment, economic and industrial efficiency, and environmental concerns.

When asked to imagine a new stadium for the city of Guadalajara, Mexico, he comes back with a never seen before cloud and volcano-shaped building, integrated into a vast urban development program that re-unite leisure and culture, nature and urbanization, sports aficionados and local citizens. Instead of implanting a stadium, he proposed an environment. And the initial vision has proven a realistic approach: the project has come to life in July 2011.

For B&B Italia he created chaise longue Terminal 1, table Seven, sculptured candles Overscale; for B&B Italia Outdoor he designed oil candles Overscale Flames, small tables Springtime.

Jeffrey Bernett

In September 1995, Jeffrey Bernett found his design studio in New York, and begins to work in different sectors, from home and office furniture to vehicle design, graphic design, new concepts of bottling and packaging, and more. His collaboration list enlarges to international level, among his new clients are B&B Italia, Boeing, Boffi, Cappellini, Conde Nast, DWR/Design Within Reach, Herman Miller, Knoll, Kvadrat, LʼOreal, Mercedes Benz, Northwest Airlines, and Teknion.

For B&B Italia he developed armchair Metropolitan ’14, chaise longue Landscape, armchair Tulip, while for B&B Italia Outdoor tables & small tables Cosmos.

Atelier OÏ

The atelier was founded in 1991 in Suiza, da Aurel Aebi, Armand Louis e Patrick Reymond. In over 25 years, the design studio has signed multiple international collaborations in several fields, from architecture and interior design to product design and scenic design. Their fearless mentality to experiment with different textures, shapes and designs took them to receive many international acknowledgments. The active study and intercultural exchange which are at the base of their work took them to design items for important names such as Artemide, B&B Italia, Bulgari, Danese, Foscarini, Lasvit, Louis Vuitton, Moroso, Parachilna, Pringle of Scotland, Rimowa, USM, Victorinox and Zanotta.

For B&B Italia was designed small tables Hive.

Mario Bellini

Mario Bellini is an internationally renowned architect and designer, who received eight times the Golden Compass Award and 25 of his works are in the permanent design collection of the New York MoMA. He was editor of Domus magazine (1985-1991). He has designed countless art, design, and architecture exhibitions over the years, both in Italy and abroad. In 2015 the Milan Triennale awarded him the Gold Medal for his career in architecture and 2017 dedicated a retrospective exhibition to him. The same exhibition will be organized again in Moscow in March 2019. Since 1991 he is the Royal Honorary Designer of RDI.

Since the 1980’s Mario Bellini is dedicating himself almost entirely to architecture, designing numerous buildings, among which: the Portello Trade Fair district in Milan, the Villa Erba Exhibition and Convention Centre in Cernobbio (Como), the Tokyo Design Centre in Japan, the Natuzzi America Headquarters in the United States, the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, the Deutsche Bank Headquarters in Frankfurt, the City History Museum of Bologna, the Department of Islamic Art at the Louvre in Paris, the new Milan Convention Centre - the largest in Europe, and the air terminal T3 at the International Airport Rome-Fiumicino. Many other projects currently in development or at the design stage.

For B&B Italia he designed the chair Cutter, table Blitz, tables-seats Gli Scacchi.

Naoto Fukasawa

A genius! With his designs devoted to simplicity and sublime beauty, Fukasawa has designed for a wide range of leading brands worldwide in Italy, Germany, America, Switzerland, Spain, China, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, France, Portugal, Sweden, and Finland, as well as consulting and working with major Japanese corporations.

In his career path, he received numerous national and international design awards. In 2007, he was accorded the title of Honorable Royal Designer for Industry (Royal Society of Arts), UK. Fukasawa is one of the directors of 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT. He also sits on the design advisory board of MUJI and is the art director of MARUNI.

In 2017, he became a member of the judging committee for the LOEWE Craft Prize. He is a professor in the Integrated Design department at Tama Art University. In 2006, he established “Super Normal” with Jasper Morrison. He has been acted as the 5th curator of The Japan Folk Crafts Museum since 2012.

His wall-mounted CD player for MUJI, humidifier for ±0, and the mobile phones INFOBAR and neon for au/KDDI are all part of New York’s Museum of Modern Art’s (MoMA) permanent collection, while his HIROSHIMA armchair for MARUNI is part of Designmusuem Danmark’s permanent collection.

He designed collections for:

-         B&B Italia: bench Bull, small tables Colosseo, sofa Harbor, chair Belle, chairs Mini Papilio, bed Siena and other.

-         B&B Italia Outdoor: small tables Colosseo, small table and table Ayana.

-         B&B Italia Project: sofa Cloud.

Patricia Urquiola

Patricia Urquiola was born in Oviedo (Spain) in 1961. Today she lives and works in Milan (Italy). She attended the school of architecture of Madrid Polytechnic and Milan Polytechnic, where she graduated in 1989 with Achille Castiglioni. From 1990 to 1992 she was assistant lecturer to both Achille Castiglioni and Eugenio Bettinelli in Milan and Paris. From 1990 to 1996 she was responsible for the new product development office of De Padova, working with Vico Magistretti. In 1996 she became head of Lissoni Associati Design Group.

In 2001 she opens her studio working on product design, architecture, and installations. She designs for the most important Italian and international producers as Agape, Alessi, Axor, B&B Italia, Bart Design, Bisazza, BMW, Bosa, Budri, Chevalier Edition, Il Coccio, De Padova, De Vecchi, Emu, Fasem, Salvatore Ferragamo, Flos, Foscarini, Glas Italia, Kartell, Kvadrat, Mixing Media, Maurice Lacroix, Liv’it, Peter Mabeo, Moroso, Mutina, Olivari, Panasonic, Paola Lenti, Rosenthal, Champagne Ruinart, San Lorenzo, Tronconi. Consulting for Honda and LG. Some of her products are exposed in the permanent collection of Moma in New York and other international museums. She has won several international prizes and awards, such as the “medalia de oro al mérito en las bellas artes” 2010 awarded by the Spanish government (2011) and the A&W magazine nomination as the designer of the year 2012.

She has designed many products, the latest being:

-         B&B Italia: chairs, armchairs, sofa and bed Husk, sofa Tufty-Time '15, small tables Husk, small tables Fat-Fat, Bend sofa, armchair Lazy, and other.

-         B&B Italia Outdoor: small tables Fat-Fat, armchair Fat, small tables Butterfly, sofa Canasta ’13, chairs and armchair Crinoline, and other.

-         B&B Italia Project: armchair and sofa Hollow.

Piero Lissoni

With offices in Milan and New York, Lissoni & Partners has a thirty-year history in developing international projects in the fields of architecture, landscape, interior, product, and graphic design. The practice’s work is inspired by a sense of rigor and simplicity and is characterized by regard to detail, coherence, and elegance with particular attention to proportion and harmony.

Also, he is responsible as art director for some of the most influential design companies: Alpi, Boffi, Living Divani, Lema, Lualdi, Porro, and Sanlorenzo.

Recognized as one of the masters of contemporary design, he has worked with many international brands including Alessi, Antrax, Atlas Concorde, B&B Italia, Bonacina1889, Cappellini, Cassina, Cotto, De Padova, Fantini, Flos, Glas Italia, Golran, Illy, Janus et Cie, Kartell, Kerakoll, KN Industrie, Knoll, Nerosicilia, Olivari, Salvatori, Tecno, Viccarbe.

Piero Lissoni has received a series of international awards, including the Good Design Award, the Red Dot Award, and the Compasso d'Oro ADI. He is a Board Member of the MAXXI National Museum for the Arts in Rome and is visiting professor and part of the Advisory Board at the Politecnico di Milano. He also serves as an Honorary Member of the Altagamma International Council.

For B&B Italia designed: storage units Liagò, sofa Eda-Mame, sofa Sake, coffee tables Formiche and more.

Studio Kairos

Giuseppe Manente, born in 1947 in Mestre (Venice, Italy), obtained his architecture degree in 1972 at Venice University. He has been practicing architecture since 1973, operating in the civil and industrial construction field for public and private institutions.

Abramo Mion, born in 1951 in Mirano (Venice, Italy), attended the engineering faculty at Padova University and then in 1974 the architecture faculty of Venice University.

Kairos in classic Greek means the right point, the right place, the right degree. In ancient Greece, it was also a concept that defined a way of operating or designing. Kairos was, for example, the choice of the right place to build a house and, at the same time, the time one had to wait until the right moment to begin construction. This balance combination of place and time is intended to apply to every new Kairos project.

A series of products created by Studio Kairos were awarded:

1984 – “Sisamo”, wardrobe system for B&B Italia, won the prize “compasso d’oro”

1987 – “Futura”, kitchen for Dada, was selected for the prize “compasso d’oro”.

1987 – skying-boot for Dolomite was selected for the prize “compasso d’oro”.

1989 – “Abak “, operative office system for B&B Italia – Herman Miller was selected for the prize “compasso d’oro”.

1989 – prize EIMU milano.

1991 – prize Milano Office Design.

1994 –“Velante”, wardrobe system for B&B Italia was selected for the prize “compasso d’oro”.

1998 –“Atlante”, sliding door system for B&B Italia, was selected for the prize “compasso d’oro”.

1998 –“PAB”, living system for B&B Italia, was selected for “compasso d’oro”.

For B&B Italia they created: wall system Pab, small table Pab ’05, storage unit Dado.

Vincent Van Duysen

Vincent Van Duysen was born in 1962 in Lokeren, Belgium, and undertook a degree in Architecture at the Higher Institute of Architecture Sint-Lucas, Ghent. Between 1986 and 1987 Van Duysen worked in Milan collaborating with Aldo Cibic – Sottsass Associati, after which, in 1990, he opened his studio in Antwerp concentrating on architecture and interiors.

From the beginning, Van Duysen has practiced an approach that covers all aspects of architecture and design – with respect for context and tradition his expressions are unafraid of aesthetics and resist fashion and trends. Architecture and interiors with essentialism and depth have become a signature of Van Duysen’s work. He is that rare architect who can combine a modern language of form with an intuitive feel for materials, a reflection of the senses.

He is developing furniture and objects with an architectural perspective – creating spatial relations rather than shapes, pieces that afford a purity and essentialism yet remain tactile and grounded. Subsequently, many of the designs reference primary forms or historical objects which Van Duysen redefines through a contemporary lens.

In September 2016 Van Duysen was appointed Designer of the Year at the 25th Silver Edition of Biennale Interieur and awarded with the Flemish Culture Prize for Design 2015. In 2016 Van Duysen becomes the new art director of the Italian Molteni&C group including Dada kitchens.

For B&B Italia he designed: armchair Pablo, storage units Surface, table Oskar, armchair Theo, small table Surface.

Zaha Hadid

Zaha Hadid was an architect who consistently pushes the boundaries of architecture and urban design. Her work experiments with new spatial concepts intensifying existing urban landscapes in the pursuit of a visionary aesthetic that encompasses all fields of design, ranging from urban scale to products, interiors, and furniture. She designed many amazing projects, among most extraordinary being: Vitra fire station, Land Formation-one, Bergisel ski-jump, Strasbourg tram station, the Rosenthal Centre for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati, the BMW central building in Leipzig, the hotel Puerta America (interior) in Madrid, the Ordrupgaard Museum extension in Copenhagen, and the Phaeno Science Center in Wolfsburg.

She was honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, fellow of the American Institute of Architecture, and Commander of the British Empire (2002).

She designed sofa Moon System for B&B Italia.

Best wishes,

Nadiya 

MetropolitanMe Blogger