TREND:
Outdoor

The MAG - 05.23

By Cristina Morozzi

During these challenging times, the temporary closure of businesses and public spaces has had an unexpected positive effect on our environment. It's been heartening to see nature thrive in unexpected places. Judas trees, for example, have flourished in urban areas, while gardens have been revitalized with new growth and blossoming hedges. Even the trees of happiness have been adorned with fragrant white flowers, which are a true joy to behold. It's comforting to know that even in difficult times, nature has a way of reminding us of the beauty and resilience of life.

Interestingly, many interior design companies are venturing into creating outdoor collections. For example, Cassina, best known for its "I Maestri" collection that features historic design icons, has expanded its offerings to include an outdoor collection. Likewise, Driade has also expanded its outdoor series, which now features designs such as the Toy armchair by Philippe Starck and the Nemo chair by Fabio Novembre. MDF Italia has likewise included an outdoor furniture collection in its catalogue.

Meanwhile, Babel, a new outdoor furniture brand, has emerged, showcasing its Gao and Kissi outdoor loungers made of durable aluminium alloy. Finally, Ethimo unveiled Outfit, an outdoor home gym, at Salone 2023. Seeing how businesses adapt and evolve during these challenging times is encouraging.

Among the numerous events, some interesting ones took place outside the Salone during the design week. One was called "Rosso Meraviglia," an installation by Michele De Lucchi in collaboration with Venini and Buccellati. It was a dome with a red-painted metal structure inspired by the Pantheon, which protected a lush hedge with foliage and moss placed in iconic Venini vases made of ruby-coloured glass. Another event was the collaborative project between the Alcantara brand and the Maxxi museum in Rome, which moved to Venice on the Certosa island with an installation called "Bio Ground" by the Ossidiana studio, linked to the environmental context of the island. Furthermore, Paola Lenti, a well-known outdoor furniture brand, expanded its space in a new Milanese location in Piazzale Maciachini.

Serralunga, a brand for outdoor furniture founded in Biella in 1825, confirmed its narrative/figurative vocation with a series of pieces, including the stylized hedgehog "Bonnie", the polyethylene garden stool "Porcino" designed by Aldo Cibic and the Cactus large, also in polyethylene designed by Alessandra Baldereschi. In the Serralunga Zoo, three pieces also have a prominent place, Pulcino, Paloma and Drago, signed by the well-known Finnish designer Eero Arnio.

Lastly, Gervasoni 1882, a renowned outdoor brand, hosted the Tao project by Federica Biasi, an experimental journey between the past and future of the brand dedicated to new collections signed by Federica Biasi, Chiara Andreatti, David Lopez Quincoces, Gabriele e Oscar Buratti, Paola Navone, Nendo e Federico Peri.