airplane-inspired borea for B&B italia grants eclectic outdoors harmony

refined contemporaneity and eclecticism emanate from piero lissoni’s borea collection for B&B italia outdoor. the seamless, tubular metallic structures with no visible joints, give the series its distinctive character and style. the design of the simplistic yet elegant thin frames is driven by sustainability, lightness, and versatility; all of which combine harmoniously to embellish gardens and outdoors spaces of all kinds. from residential contexts to commercial and public environments, borea delicately imposes a timeless finesse. 

photographs by tommaso sartori
all images courtesy of B&B italia

piero lissoni’s fascination for airplanes leads him to borea’s take off for B&B italia. with metal bending techniques primarily used in the aeronautical sector, the designer develops a light and stylistically refined collection.

‘borea is an airplane. it is an airplane that has landed, a twenty first century airplane with a technological soul that perhaps dates back to another century. borea is an aluminum collection, very modern, stackable, a genuine outdoor product that you can leave out in the rain and nothing happens, but above all it looks like an airplane! it gives you the idea of this timeless furniture that the tradition of the twentieth century has moved into the new century,’ he explains.

the seating products are manufactured in a fluid, jointless manner, and include a two and a three-seater sofa, an oversized armchair, a low smaller armchair, and a dining chair. each is produced in recyclable and stackable aluminum frames, making it practical to store during winter. the metal is painted in shades of dove grey, sage, clay, and anthracite and the vast choice expands with the upholstery of the cushions and waterproof covers. the nautical striped pattern, inspired by the classic deckchair, emphasizes the designer’s wish to thread past to present. for contemporary versatility, the pattern varies with thinner or thicker stripes in blue/green and white/grey, whilst solid colored profiles like red, aquamarine green, blue, grey, and white are also available.

piero lissoni goes the extra mile for sustainability and further comfort. the polyester fiber used for the padding of the cushions is made from recycled PET plastic bottles. in fact, 510 bottles of 1.5L are needed for the three-seater sofa. the specific fiber, also used for the yarn of seams and zippers, is chosen for its exceptional quality, durability, and elasticity. the rigor of the textile, paired with the polished metallic frames, create a tranquil balance for body and mind. 

the dining tables reflect the design of the seating structures and are manufactured in thin stainless steel frames in finishes of sage, clay, ocean blue, and anthracite. similarly, the tabletop comes in three bright colors: sage, clay, and ocean blue. the tops are made in enameled lava stone sourced from etna, sicily. their glazed texture is achieved with a special material obtained  by recycling the glass of discarded TV and PC monitors applied directly to the stone, through an exclusive process. a variety of low and coffee tables complete the collection, varying in size and shape as if flat mountain tops amongst a range of soft seating.

piero lissoni creates a 95% sustainable outdoors furniture series born from recycled and recovered materials. once the products end their life cycle, they are then recycled to become something else -a sofa, a machine, an airplane perhaps. borea gives true meaning to the word contemporaneity, as each product can be completely disassembled and further disposed to follow a different path.

collection info:

company: B&B italia

designer: piero lissoni

name: borea

year: 2021