Architect Piero Lissoni enjoys experiencing the outdoors at his weekend retreat. The rolling hills, dotted with vineyards, create the perfect setting for his new outdoor range of furniture for B&B Italia.
The unique textures found in the landscape, with its rendered sandstone house, resonate with this understated and elegant collection. And while Lissoni has established a worldwide reputation for his distinctive buildings and furniture, he continually looks forward to new projects. When asked about some of his past milestones, Lissoni responds modestly; “the projects that I work on tomorrow will be the next milestones.”
In partnership with Space Furniture
SAKe Sofa designed by Piero Lissoni for B&B Italia
SAKe Sofa and Formiche Coffee Table designed by Piero Lissoni for B&B Italia
SAKe Sofa and Formiche Coffee Table designed by Piero Lissoni for B&B Italia
The new Borea range by Piero Lissoni for B&B Italia is an eco-design collection using recycled and recyclable materials.
Many of Piero Lissoni’s designs produced for B&B Italia, such as Dock and the Liago Storage System, have a strong architectural signature, not surprising given his training as an architect. “I grew up with a very humanistic vision of the profession at the Politecnico di Milano with a design philosophy that brings together architecture, industrial design, interior design and graphics.”
“For me, all these different aspects, in the end, form part of a single picture that is a lot more complex,” Lissoni says, whose designs may appear simple and elegant, but conceal a complexity that only a highly trained eye can fully appreciate.
The new Borea range features cushions made from polyester fibre obtained from recycled PET plastic bottles.
“I would like to bring out even more of B&B Italia’s aptitude for the contemporary, for which it is renowned.”
– Piero Lissoni
SAKe Sofa and Formiche Coffee Table designed by Piero Lissoni for B&B Italia
Dock Sofa and Dock Coffee Table designed by Piero Lissoni for B&B Italia
Following in the steps of other great artistic directors for B&B Italia, such as Antonio Citterio, Lissoni is keen to establish his own ‘voice’, while responding to a highly discerning clientele who have grown up with B&B Italia in their homes.
“My work will be more a question of fine-tuning,” Lissoni says. “I would like to bring out even more of B&B Italia’s aptitude for the contemporary, for which it is renowned”. Lissoni says he intends to work on the communication of the company’s designs. “The only thing which it has possibly lost in recent times is looking a little more nostalgically at the past,” he adds.
Dock Sofa designed by Piero Lissoni for B&B Italia
Eda-Mame Sofa designed by Piero Lissoni for B&B Italia
As with all designers worldwide, COVID-19 has created obstacles, with many now working and spending more time at home. “I hope this experience has made us understand that a space must possess a certain dignity and quality, with people being more conscious of their surrounds, along with a new financial perspective as a result of the virus,” Lissoni says, who will continue to pursue his personal vision as a designer and art director for B&B Italia. And while Lissoni has collaborated with many of the world’s leading companies, he singles out B&B Italia with the reverence that comes from decades of being at the pinnacle of its industry. “I think B&B Italia is the most natural interpreter of the contemporary – this is its heritage and what will guide me.”
Formiche Coffee Table designed by Piero Lissoni for B&B Italia
Formiche Coffee Table designed by Piero Lissoni for B&B Italia
love the Eda- Mame sofa
Superbly beautiful furniture – but the modern trend of breaking up the sold back of sofas like the SAKE SOFA, adding loose cushions, definitely does not contribute to seating comfort. Is there design reason for this?