50 years of B&B Italia: 10 most iconic products from the Italian furniture brand

For half a century, B&B Italia has been creating masterpieces for the world to treasure. Founded in 1966 by Piero Ambrogio Busnelli, the firm quickly rose to become one of Italy’s most reputed brands, setting high standards for consumers and furniture design. Through the years, it collaborated with a melange of leading creatives, from Patricia Urquiola and Zaha Hadid to Mario Bellini, Barber & Osgerby and many others. This year, they celebrate 50 years of exquisite craftsmanship, impeccable design and wondrous detail. We take you through 10 of their most inspiring products that have contributed to making B&B Italia the powerhouse of Italian design it is today.1. Coronado Designed by award winning postmodern Italian architects Afra and Tobia Scarpa in 1966, Coronado is a classical design that is still in production. The polyurethane sofa comes with fabric or leather covers. The piece fused features of period furniture and modern requirements, making it a sought after creation. 2. Serie Up 2000 Italian architect, urban planner and industrial designer Gaetano Pesce’s iconic 1969 design, Serie Up 2000 seater was relaunched in the new millennium. Its expressive shape and bold curves make it a memorable objet d’art. 3. Le Bambole In 1972, one of Italy’s leading contemporary designer Mario Bellini collaborated with the company to produce a cushioned seater that would take the form of the object resting on it. A great hit at the time, it was revived again in 2007. 4. DiesisJointly envisioned by Italian product designers Antonio Citterio and Paolo Nava, Diesis couch was launched in 1979. Stuffed with down and polyurethane inserts, this fabric or leather covered piece is every inch as comfortable as it looks.5. Charles Antonio Citterio’s Charles sofa collection was initially produced in 1997. After 19 years, this inverted L shaped sofa is still one of the company’s bestselling products. Its numerous cushions make it an ideal spot to relax. The simple clean form of the piece allows it to be arranged in several forms to compose new spaces. 6. Mart  Another piece created by Antonio in 2003, the sinewy armchair has a glass fibre shell you can sink into. Designed to give optimum comfort to the user, it is offered in leather and fabric coverings. 7. Grande PapilioCreated by Japanese industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa in 2009, the armchair gets it name because the backrest is reminiscent of the wings of the butterfly it is named after. It appears to be carved out of a single block of material and comes with its own ottoman. 8. Husk Perhaps the best recognised piece, Spanish creative and EDIDA award winner Patricia Urquiola’s Husk chair was produced in 2011. The moulded plastic frame with a series of soft cushion padding is reminiscent of a cosy bed.9. Tobi Ishi Envisioned in 2012 by the famous British designer duo Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, the Tobi Ishi table is inspired by the ornamental stones found in Japanese gardens. Its shape has been updated since – the originally round table also comes in a rectangular shape in several colours. 10. Almora The leather upholstered Almora chair was designed in 2014 by London based designers Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien of Doshi Levien for the brand. Its striking padded headrest and conical shape are easily identifiable. Did you know that it is named after an Indian region which provides great views of the Himalayas?Website: www.bebitalia.comAlso read: 6 living room furniture sets that are right on trend