EVERYDAY BEAUTY
Antonio Citterio seamlessly blends exceptional comfort and elevated style in Flexform’s 2021 Outdoor Collection
it is no longer a sofa,” says Antonio Citterio. For the acclaimed Italian designer, this straightforward edict reflects a design philosophy rooted in the joys of the quotidian — the basis for a decadeslong collaboration with Flexform. “The story of my relationship with Flexform runs through everyday products and the normality of everyday life,” he says. The partnership has evolved while remaining true to a distinct combination of timeless elegance and comfort. This year, however, Citterio and the manufacturer have reached a new high-water mark in design, introducing an outdoor furniture collection of informal refinement.
A centrepiece for any outdoor living space, the Atlante sofa balances understated lines and a hardy, weather-resistant frame. The sofa’s generously plush upholstered cushions, accented with tasteful grosgrain piping, are paired with a delicately streamlined metal base wrapped in tough, water-repellent elastic webbing. A marquee example of the elevated functionality inherent to Citterio’s oeuvre, the sofa is part of the larger Atlante family, which also includes stand-alone and sectional sofas, as well as a daybed.
On a more compact scale, the welcoming Atlante daybed combines unshowy sophistication with intuitive versatility. Svelte yet durable, it features a simple mechanism to adjust the incline of its solid iroko backrest and optional aluminum posterior wheels that enable it to easily move into — or out of — the sun.
The Atlante collection’s upholstery is available in white, sand, grey and anthracite tones, while the epoxy powder-coated metal base of each sofa and daybed is also offered in a choice of shades. Complementing Citterio’s refined design, these finish options allow for playful contrasts or subtle tone-on-tone pairings.
While the Atlante series exudes a quiet contemporary flair, Flexform has also reinvented a Citterio classic — the Carlotta armchair, first introduced in 1997 — for al fresco living. The design combines a streamlined stainless-steel base with woven polypropylene-fibre upholstery, which makes for sleek yet weather-ready outdoor seating. Offering durability while eschewing the heavy proportions and cumbersome lines of typical outdoor furniture, Carlotta emphasizes enduring style over cliché and passing trends.
Decades in the making, Citterio and Flexform’s collaboration uplifts ordinary rituals. “When I think about design in general, a story of families always comes to mind,” says Citterio. “We weren’t looking for the spectacular. There is normality in the results.” But as the timeless, expressive and contemporary new collection proves, there is no shortage of beauty in the everyday.