Believe it or not, it’s patio season. Blurring the line between indoors and out, Flexform’s new collection of outdoor furnishings combines enhanced durability and year-round performance with a considered design sensibility that brings the elegance and comfort of a true living space outside.

The innovative series — which consists of seating systems, sofas, armchairs, tables, chairs and a wealth of accessories — draws on the distinct design culture that has emerged throughout Flexform’s 60-year history. From bold new pieces by Antonio Citterio to updated (and weatherproofed) editions of iconic furnishings by Mario Asnago and Claudio Vender, Flexform’s signature style is ready for al fresco living.

The Vulcano sofa by Anotnio Citterio.

Consider Citterio’s striking Vulcano sofa. Characterized by its sophisticated woven upholstery — available in a palette that ranges from earth tones to olive green — the sofa sits on a slender perimeter frame of stainless steel and nylon pads. The padded seat and back cushions are encased in a breathable but water-repellent fabric to ensure optimal outdoor performance. These durable, hard-wearing materials complement a design that embodies the graceful proportions and sleek lines of Flexform’s indoor furniture offerings.

The Fly coffee table alongside the Vulcano sofa.

Vulcano pairs handsomely with Citterio’s Fly coffee table, which epitomizes Flexform’s streamlined Italian aesthetic. The table’s simple and subtly sculptural stainless-steel base can be specified with a round or rectangular top, made from any in a variety of outdoor-ready stones – including gneiss, pieta del Cardoso and porphyry – or iroko slats. 

First introduced in 2004, Citterio’s Peter chair has been re-engineered as versatile outdoor seating. The subtle curves of the design’s weather-resistant metal frame define the chair with pleasantly understated contours, while new woven materials made of polypropylene fibre or polyurethane rubber lend the seats and backrests a light yet sturdy structure.

The Peter chair and footstool alongside the Phuket ottoman.

Similarly, the new outdoor version of Citterio’s Zefiro table stands out with a delicate angularity that belies its rugged durability. Every bit as slender as its indoor counterpart, Zefiro can be fabricated with a variety of stone tops and with cast-aluminum legs that can be epoxy powder-coated, burnished, or satin-finished. The Zefiro family comes in a host of sizes, ranging from discrete side and coffee tables to full dining tables.

The Zefiro dining table is instantly recognizable – even from afar.

Citterio’s eye-catching designs can be complemented by an equally refined selection of furnishings from Flexform’s in-house Design Center. For example, the versatile and practical Phuket ottoman is equally well-suited to be used as a comfortable poolside seat or be casually pulled up alongside any of the tables in the outdoor collection to welcome one more. Covered in woven polyurethane rubber, the functional and uncluttered ottoman is available in a number of natural tones. It’s an understated standout.

Mario Asnago and Claudio Vender’s Moka is re-imagined as an outdoor dining set.

And then there’s a reinvented 1939 classic: Mario Asnago and Claudio Vender’s Moka. A part of the Flexform collection since 1985, the Moka table and chair have been re-engineered for outdoor use.

Flexform’s Moka chair.

Immediately recognizable by the X-shape that spans the chair’s backrest and the table’s underside, this uncomplicated rationalist icon is interpreted with a slim stainless-steel frame. Eight decades later, it’s at the cutting edge of design all over again.

This content was published by Azure on behalf of Flexform.