As partners of the world’s leading design publishers, Jbonet offers a myriad of international designers whose work you can admire in one of our showrooms. But what would design be without Italy? A true emblem of modern design, Italian design is everywhere and recognised by all!
In the aftermath of the Second World War, Italy experienced a meteoric rise in its furniture and interior decoration industry, thanks in particular to a concentration of unique artisanal expertise.
Brilliant architects from across the country then went on to shape the history of modern design. Straddling industry and art, Italian style captivated the world and, from the 1960s onwards, was exported to every corner of the globe.
On the occasion of Italy’s National Day this 2 June, we are pleased to introduce—or reintroduce—a selection of Italian designers available in our Jbonet showrooms, in Nice or Cannes.
A few Italian designer references:
Born in Pisa, Roberto Lazzeroni studied art and architecture in Florence. During his training years, he became increasingly interested in the phenomena of conceptual art and radical design. He began his professional career in the early 1980s with a series of major ‘Interior Architecture’ works, which were immediately noticed and published by both Italian and international magazines.
Currently for sale at Jbonet, this magnificent Outdoor Secret Garden for Poltrona Frau, invites relaxation and conviviality in an outdoor setting.
Outdoor Secret Garden designed by Roberto Lazerroni for Poltrona Frau – for sale at Jbonet
The armchair is an outdoor piece in solid teak with a natural finish, characterised by unrivalled cabinetmaking craftsmanship that gives it its sinuous, enveloping shapes.
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Together with the two-seater sofa and the coffee table, it creates a more informal dining area. The backrest features a special weave of two-tone ecru and taupe cotton straps, supporting independent, removable outdoor cushions. For a more comfortable seat, a square back cushion and a rectangular lumbar support cushion are available. All padding is designed to allow water to drain away and dry quickly.
Architects and designers, Ludovica & Roberto Palomba have been working together since 1994. Based in Milan, they work across interior architecture, industrial design, design management and communication. They graduated in architecture from the University of Rome, then founded their own firm, Palomba e Serafini Associated studio, based in Milan. They put their marketing and artistic expertise at the service of leading brands to meet clients’ expectations. The couple’s complementary talents combine boldness with serenity, originality and purity in each of their creations. They work for Cappellini, Driade, Foscarini and Zanotta, including the famous Pianoalto sofa for sale at Jbonet.
Modular Pianoalto sofa by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba – published by Zanotta – for sale at Jbonet
The Pianoalto is a complete sofa system, made up of numerous modules to create a composition that will perfectly suit your preferences and your space. The various available elements make it possible to create straight or curved sofas, fostering a cosy, intimate atmosphere in both residential and shared environments.
Modular Pianoalto sofa by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba – published by Zanotta – for sale at Jbonet
The Pianoalto sofa features a wooden frame, elastic webbing suspension and graphite-painted steel feet. The padding is variable-density polyurethane/Dacron Du Pont with a quilted goose-down insert. It has a removable cover, available in many fabrics and leathers. A true invitation to relax, Pianoalto is a fully customisable system that adapts to your needs.
Antonio Citterio was born in Italy in 1950. He graduated in Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Milan. In 1972, he founded a studio dedicated to industrial design. With Patricia Viel, he founded an architecture, design and graphics agency in 1999. His work has been acclaimed on more than one occasion: he has received two Compasso D’Oro awards, as well as the Mies van der Rohe Award and the Royal Designer for Industry title from the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. During the 2000s, several publishers devoted monographs to him. Considered a true reference in Italian design, he now teaches architecture at the Università della Svizzera italiana. He is also a member of the Italian Design Council, under the Italian Ministry of Culture.
Grand Sofà embodies Antonio Citterio’s interpretation of luxurious comfort and contemporary design. The Italian designer’s sense of lightness and elegance is combined with the quality and precision of the Swiss company Vitra.
Grand Sofà sofa by Antonio Citterio – published by Vitra – for sale at Jbonet
The clean lines and geometric shapes of the generously sized elements form a spacious platform for sitting or reclining.
Grand Sofà sofa by Antonio Citterio – published by Vitra – for sale at Jbonet
The body rests on two points at the front, beneath the seat surface, and behind the backrest on a bridge-shaped aluminium base; the sofa thus appears to float above the floor.
Grand Sofà sofa by Antonio Citterio – published by Vitra – for sale at Jbonet
The seat elements are open at the sides, emphasising the horizontal planes of the Grand Sofà. The sofa backrest is available as a continuous version across the full width or in a shorter version. This makes it possible to create a large modular sofa with breaks and changing perspectives, giving it a lightness and an almost topographical diversity.
Grand Sofà sofa by Antonio Citterio – published by Vitra – for sale at Jbonet
Afra and Tobia Scarpa are an Italian designer couple. Together, they created iconic pieces of 20th-century design.
The Scarpa couple are behind a multitude of legendary pieces. They designed the Soriana seats (1970), the Jucker lamp (1963), the Bastiano series (1960) and the Monk seat (1973). Their pieces were published by major companies such as Knoll International and Cassina.
Soriana sofa by Afra and Tobia Scarpa – published by Cassina – for sale at Jbonet
The Soriana sofa is a cult piece reissued by the brand Cassina since June 2021. Its revolutionary design earned it the prestigious “Compasso d’Oro” award in 1970. When it was created, the Soriana sofa made a strong impression with its revolutionary, unique design. Fifty years later, it still leaves no one indifferent. With its generous padding and deep, quilted seat, it immediately invites relaxation and makes you want to lounge in it. Its welcoming, tufted design is complemented by buttons on the seat and backrest, while the whole takes shape thanks to a chromed steel structure.
Soriana sofa by Afra and Tobia Scarpa – published by Cassina – for sale at Jbonet
When it was first marketed, Soriana was offered with a wool or leather upholstery. Cassina then added two new finishes: velvet and Alcantara (a material with a suede-like appearance) before stopping production in 1980. At that time, the sofa could only be obtained as a vintage piece or at auctions.
In 2021, its design remains unchanged, but its materials evolve to address today’s environmental challenges. Thus, the polyurethane padding of the former Soriana sofa is replaced by BioFoam, a natural padding made from bio-based polymers derived from natural, biodegradable resources. To celebrate the reissue of this cult creation by the Scarpa couple, new colours are also offered.
Gae (Gaetana) Aulenti is a key figure in architecture, design, urban planning and scenography in Italy. Born in 1927 in Palazzolo dello Stella, in the province of Udine, she is renowned for the design of several museums in Paris and Barcelona, and today inspires a new generation of creators.
Pipistrello lamp by Gae Aulenti – for sale at Jbonet
Gae Aulenti, who was also Artistic Director of the FontanaArte brand at the time, created the famous Pipistrello table lamp in 1965, for the Martinelli Luce company.
Why “Pipistrello”? Because the shape of the lamp—and especially the lampshade—is largely inspired by the wings of a pipistrelle, or bat, or “pipistrello” in Italian.
Pipistrello lamp by Gae Aulenti – for sale at Jbonet
Composed of a white opal methacrylate diffuser and a height-adjustable telescopic metal base, the Pipistrello is a design icon.
The list could go on endlessly, such is the richness of Italian design! In this article, we wanted to share a few fine references currently available at Jbonet. Often avant-garde, creative and timeless, Italian design is essential; please do not hesitate to contact us for more information or to visit one of our showrooms in Nice or Cannes.
