eugeni quitllet's tale with pedrali carries past into future blending outdoors with in

‘it was like a love story; it was the right place and time to start dreaming and creating magic,’ describes eugeni quitllet on the tale of two chairs, pedrali and the balance of in and outdoor furniture to designboom. the collaboration began with a great harmony between the italian brand’s executive officers, giuseppe and monica pedrali, and the renowned designer, making way for the ‘remind’ and ‘soul’ collections. with the two families of products, eugeni blends past and future together as he fades the boundaries of living spaces. as the outdoors and in integrate – a feeling fortified by the pandemic – balconies, terraces and gardens become part of everyday life.

(above) remind armchairs by eugeni quitllet, art direction studio FM milano | image by andrea garuti, styling studio salaris
(banner) maregio suites, project by smart interiors – santorini, greece
all images courtesy of pedrali

with products 100% made-in-italy, pedrali continues finding ways to give contemporary and industrial design new meanings. the brand’s long history with traditional craftsmanship keeps evolving through cutting-edge technology, also evident in eugeni quitllet’s outdoor chairs. ‘for both chairs, we focused on the outdoors, technology and, most importantly, in keeping in line with pedrali’s handcraft history,’ says the designer.

soul outdoor by eugeni quitllet, art direction studio FM milano | image by andrea garuti, styling studio salaris

the romantic and organic lines of ‘remind’ simplify the concept of bringing the past into the future. the designer re-envisions the traditional monobloc chair with contemporary touches, such as the characterful punched breathable holes on the seat and backrest. the chair sits naturally as an outdoor furniture piece, evoking strong emotions of nostalgia although actually new. this strongly connects to the product’s name – derived from re-cordis meaning passing from the heart.

‘in latin, when you remind yourself of something you reveal some sort of emotion; I love this reference for the chair,’ explains eugeni.

remind chair by eugeni quitllet, art direction studio FM milano | image by andrea garuti, styling studio salaris

‘products that have an emotional and romantic aspect to them also have a very strong technological support. they are an investment of energy, money, and time so we need to think about a timeless style for longevity. we created this light structure and shape that can resist sun and rain. those little holes are there to let the water and air through,’ remarks the designer.

remind armchairs by eugeni quitllet

from the original to the chair’s customizable ‘pixel’ version, the product is dressed in many meaningful layers. according to eugeni, there is a direct relationship between design and the environment, whether that revolves the materials, the energy put into manufacturing, or even the emotional connection. effectively, the need to be environmentally conscious lies close to the designer’s heart.

‘every industrial project ought to have an ecological dimension to it and the function is another aspect that needs to address the energy and the environment. making a stackable chair for example, means more products in the truck, less petrol for delivery, and less space in the new home,’ clarifies eugeni.

remind chair by eugeni quitllet

taking this eco-friendliness a step further, ‘remind’ is available in the recycled grey version made entirely from recycled plastic. the designer takes upon the challenge to create a product out of people’s post-consumer waste and industrial plastic remains. with its airy appearance, the chair is essentially ‘an organic synthesis of different materials, analysis, and qualifications,’ explains eugeni. the outcome is so special to him as it is a physical representation of the effort that is put into separating waste towards creating another useful object.

‘it is the user that needs to understand the work, what they’re purchasing and at what cost. we can try as much as we can, but it is the client that needs to go that extra step to recycle or to buy the recycled,’ adds the designer as he relates back to the two chairs.

soul outdoor by eugeni quitllet

with the original version made in ashwood and transparent plastic, the ‘soul’ chair merges futuristic, plastic injection technology with the sensitivity of handcrafting. as the sculptural frame holds the almost disappearing seat, the design once again bridges past to future. the outdoors version is created by reversing the technologies, where the contemporary aluminum structure holds a weather-resistant, timber teak seat.

‘there is the need to give an object more uses in order to extend its lifespan. this is what i like about soul; that other than polycarbonate and wood, there is the same effect with aluminum and teak. this way, whether indoor or outdoor, the result is always elegant,’ eugeni expands.

soul outdoor by eugeni quitllet

the circumstances of the pandemic accentuate the change in perception of outside furniture. the pieces were often seen as a relative luxury, but now exterior furnishings are almost a necessity. after many months of lockdown, people look to maximize the potential of outside living spaces, whether that is their high-rise balcony or back garden.

‘nowadays, everyone has recognized the innate human need to be outside. now, our products need to adapt if we take them outside and leave them. there are no more barriers, we have to learn how to live in every situation and the product has to answer to that,’ reveals the designer.

products should be designed to avoid undergoing modifications whenever the situation and needs change. this is one of the many reasons why an environmental conscious is a must when creating, as eugeni mentions. the designer explains how essential it is for other creatives like him to be aware and to understand people’s needs in the present whilst answering to the possibilities of the future. the ‘remind’ and ‘soul’ chairs, originally revealed in 2018, both play an even more important part in the living spaces of today – indoors or outdoors.

‘it’s important to be observant and to create products that respond to the future, although designed today. today’s situation, for example, can change rapidly and suddenly. to be able to achieve this, a designer needs to be active in reality, but also distant from it,’ concludes eugeni quitllet.

soul outdoor by eugeni quitllet

collection info:

brand: pedrali

products: remind chair and armchair, soul armchair

designer: eugeni quitllet

setting: outdoors