263 OUTDOOR. OPINIONS BY PATRICIA URQUIOLA AND RODOLFO DORDONI

PATRICIA URQUIOLA 1‒ Outdoor furniture used to be a closed sector that was restricted to just a few types of products that were aesthetically simplified and used basic materials. Today, on the contrary, it’s one of the most advanced sectors, with complex, multifarious furniture designs and ever more advanced materials that make it possible to take domestic comfort outside. The manufacturers are continuing to carry out research into fabrics, structures, and fillings, in parallel with the experimentations of the designers. 2‒ This year I’ve been working with naturalness and memory. The synthetic fibres in my Vimini collection for Kettal recall the woven canes used to make baskets, and pay homage to the 1950s elegance of the Basket armchair by Nanna Dietzel. My Garden Layers, manufactured by GAN Rugs, is a daybed in polypropylene with a textile effect that has been woven by hand; I wanted it to look as though it had been covered with multicoloured rugs, like the typical Indian daybeds that inspired me. 3‒ There’s still much to be done in the field of outdoor furniture. The biggest challenge is the softness of waterproof fillings and textiles, which are now also pleasant to touch, with material textures and nuanced palettes that used to be unthinkable for exterior use (personally, I like rope and earthy tones). And the latest generation of materials are not only weatherproof; they’ve also been brightened up by colour tones we haven’t seen before, such as the terracottacoloured thermo-lacquered aluminium that I’ve developed with GAN. 4‒ I don’t like giving advice about style. I’d suggest aiming for interwoven fibre, which is a contemporary re-elaboration of the handmade aesthetic. When it comes to coverings, colours that range from green to reddish-brown will harmonise with the environment. And be careful about the finishes: in outdoor furniture it’s the quality of the fabrics, woods, metals, and paints that make the difference. The lighting is also important because it establishes the mood. If I were to design a light fitting for external use, I would aim for the natural effect.

RODOLFO DORDONI 1‒ Outdoor furniture has become consolidated over the past ten years. Before that the main requirement was that products had to be high-performance, robust, and weather-resistant. Then the intuition of pioneering manufacturers like Roda took design outside. I’m talking about proportions, modularity, and a wide range of finishes. At the same time, performance has become even more advanced. Today there’s a very wide offer and people are working on the details, carrying out research that focuses on colours and materials. 2‒ In such a large market, what makes the difference is to design collections that are coordinated in their shapes and materials and that widen the offer, and go so far as to offer a total look. As art director for Roda I aim for synergy. In this year’s Mix& Match Project, the bright tones and patterned fabrics (making their first appearance) bring together historic products with the latest proposals. And the new pieces, such as the Laze armchair by Gordon Guillaumier and my Piper dining set, harmonise with all the rest of the catalogue. 3‒ When it comes to the Minotti Lifescape collection, it’s different. For the past 20 years I’ve been art director at Minotti, which is celebrating its 70th birthday this year. Our concept for the outdoor ranges is quiet, formal, and sartorial, exactly as though the outside were just another room of the house. The recent first project by Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan, who has designed a system of modular seating in teak, brings a more informal point of view. Sunny, as he is himself. 4‒ Whether it’s for a terrace or the garden, you should try to coordinate the furniture with the planting. In order to do so, you need to design an exact layout whose main objective is to establish continuity between the interior and the exterior. The connotation of the materials is important: those who like colour should choose from the range of woods combined with coloured ropes, which are the latest trend. For more rationally-minded people, natural aluminium and cool chrome, although these need to be carefully calibrated because if not, they don’t leave much room to express the personality of whoever lives there.