Living Legends
Three decades ago, a relatively unknown Piero Lissoni started art directing a plucky 20-year-old furniture company called Living Divani. Not long after, he proposed a Frog to them … and then that Frog became a bestseller. The rest is design history
Even as it celebrates two major anniversaries, Italy’s Living Divani has its sights set firmly on the future. By Nelda Rodger
celebrated two major anniversaries: the company’s 50th, plus 30 years of collaboration with art director Piero Lissoni.
Still owned and operated by its founders, Renata Pozzoli and
Luigi Bestetti (their daughter, Carola Bestetti, joined them in 2004), Living Divani has accomplished much for a family business, showing persistence and patience as well as an excellent nose for sussing out evolving business and aesthetic opportunities.
When Lissoni came on board in 1989, the company already had an impressive catalogue and a solid reputation in Italy for its clean-lined upholstered products. In combination with his studio’s strong graphic capabilities, Lissoni used his impeccable eye and his talent for anticipating stylistic directions to groom the brand for an international market. At IMM Cologne in 1996, the lowslung, wide and woven Frog chair (launched in Milan a year earlier) had a riveting impact, suggesting a completely new direction in furniture – casual and freewheeling, yet still very elegant. It was compelling enough to stop Nasir Kassamali, owner of the legendary Luminaire showrooms in Miami and Chicago, in his tracks.
And poof! Living Divani had found its prince.
Carola Bestetti was living in L.A. when she got the call from her parents to come back to Brianza, the furniture hub north of Milan where Living Divani is headquartered. She gave up her plans to study fashion buying to become assistant art director, learning from the man who has been “like a big brother.” Today, Carola liaises between Lissoni’s studio and the dozen or so other designers who collaborate on the growing Living Divani catalogue. In 2019, young up-and-comers showing work for the brand at the Milan furniture fair included David Lopez Quincoces, Keiji Takeuchi, Lukas Scherrer, Lanzavecchia + Wai, Stephen Burks and Leonardo Talarico.
The Uncollected Collection
In celebration of his 30 years as art director of Living Divani, Piero Lissoni was given free reign to create something special to mark the occasion. Drawing inspiration from various sources, including the art of Jeff Koons, he came up with a limited-edition collection that’s a study on the contours of furniture drawn in broad and thin strokes. On one hand, the Uncollected Collection includes three very ethereal chairs and matching tables made of steel rod and aluminum. Contrasting these is a bulbous trio consisting of a cast-aluminum chaise longue, chair and low table in high-gloss silver, red or blue.