With al fresco season just around the corner, we’ve rounded up five new contemporary outdoor lounge collections from Dedon, Gandiablasco, ARD Outdoor, Molteni&C and Max ID NY that encourage slowing down and soaking in the sun.   

New York designer Todd Bracher applied his signature “essentialist approach” when conceiving Mass for Gandiablasco, a modular sofa system that is stripped of any unnecessary detailing in order to present pure sophistication. Keeping the end user top of mind, Bracher designed Mass to truly be of service: the modular volumes are a response to the need for on-the-fly space planning and are intended to devise configurations that encourage communication, interaction and interconnection. 

The concise series includes only five components – two pentagon seating modules and three rectangular backrests in different lengths – but is capable of accommodating near-endless spontaneous socializing scenarios. Suitable for use in private settings as well as contract spaces, the Mass elements are made with an internal lightweight yet sturdy aluminum structure that is wrapped in a fast-drying polyurethane foam and a layer of surface wading. Elongated iroko wood legs lift the pieces off the ground and add a touch of handsome elegance.

When American furniture and industrial designer Richard Frinier first conceived Daydream 20 years ago for Dedon, he was inspired by his own wanderlust, Middle Eastern folk tales and a desire to offer an “invitation to the dreamer in us all.” That aspiration translated into the now-iconic four-poster daybed immediately recognizable for its undulating lines, outward flaring vertical poles and billowing “fabric sky” canopy. 

To honour Daydream’s 20^th anniversary, a new punchy Citrine colourway has been released for the daybed’s distinctive Viennese cane-weaving (made with weather-resistant Dedon Fiber) that constitutes almost its entire structure. As bright as a sunny day, the new hue contrasts well with the gauzy fabric canopy, while the standard thick cushion and plump pillows enhance the comfort of a spot ideal for reading, snoozing or conversing pool or beach side. A matching sculptural side table has also been added to the Daydream collection.

When developing Molteni&C’s inaugural Outdoor Collection, creative director Vincent Van Duysen simultaneously looked to the past and the present, resurrecting favourites designs from the brand’s archives while also calling on some esteemed contemporaries like Foster + Partners and Ron Gilad to contribute original pieces. Palinfrasca is an example of the former. Representing the Landmark Collection – one of three concepts within the overarching Outdoor Collection – Palinfrasca pays direct tribute to the iconic heritage piece that architect and designer Luca Meda originally created in 1994.

With the outdoor version, Van Duysen maintains its pleasantly round form and banded woven backrest – “a marvel of Italian savoir-faire and fine craftsmanship,” the macro-scale warp and weft motif combines natural teak or olive-green EVA polyurethane bands with painted metal rods that evoke the poles and branches used in basket-making. A pillar-like frame supports the entire volume and features a smooth flat top that doubles as a handy shelf for drinks and small objects; generous seat cushions feature variable densities for top-level comfort. The Palinfrasca series includes sofas in three widths, a loveseat, end pieces in two lengths, corner and chaise longues in two lengths, an armchair, a pouffe and the super-inviting circular island element shown. 

A meticulous merging of strong architectural lines with soft, gentle curves, the Aloe collection from ARD Outdoor has a transitional character that complements a wide range of settings. Its defining feature is its boxy aluminum frame in graphic jet–black – approached from the side and it appears like a thick sheet of metal, but from above its noticeably thinner and almost delicate looking. This sleight of hand makes for an extra-roomy perch that is enhanced by the expansive and generously stuffed seat and back cushions. Part of ARD Outdoor’s own custom-designed collection, Aloe has a subtle sophistication and the open-frame composition has a visual lightness that won’t overwhelm even small spaces. 

For his take of the common sun lounger, designer Maximillian Eicke (founder of Max ID NY who is based in both New York and Bali) looked to both the sea and the land – specifically, cresting waves and rippling sand dunes. The result is the Sloth chair, an ergonomic, slightly quirky lounger whose name directly hints at how the user should take time to slow down and relax. 

The Sloth chair’s atypical form is made with a powder-coated aluminum frame that supports the contours of the body; its stackable S-shape, coupled with its foldaway rear legs and an integrated handle cut-out, also makes it super-easy to carry compared to more conventional designs. The hand-woven synthetic fibre body is available in six signature colours – white, tan, grey, yellow, orange and teal.