Gardens, terraces, patios and small urban balconies are about to become oases of peace and relaxation, thanks to outdoor furniture with organic shapes, neutral colors and natural materials.
Outdoor Living Sustainability with Kata Arper
Light in form and gentle with the environment, Kata by Arper, designed by Altherr Désile Park, is inspired by principles of sustainability through design that looks to the circular economy.
Arper’s first solid wood lounge chair, Kata evokes the traditional woven wood and straw chair, reinterpreting it with the use of contemporary and sustainable solutions. The result is an outdoor seat that combines warmth and graphic purity, in a juxtaposition of presence in space and a minimal profile, suspended between strength and delicacy, tradition and technology.
Kata combines traditional craftsmanship with soft technology. The frame, available in oak or black locust, both FSC-certified, supports the shell, made of delicately woven 3D fabric designed specifically for Arper’s project. The upholstery is made from post-consumer polyester yarns processed into lightweight, durable fibers.
The fabric has been technologically designed to perfectly fit the seat shaft, minimizing material waste and is available in two types: 3D knit with graphic pattern and internal micro padding, in natural linen, wheat and charcoal tones or 3D knit with striped pattern, in aqua, wheat, charcoal colors, the latter also suitable for outdoor use. Additional back and seat cushions can be customized, drawing on either Arper’s wide selection of fabrics or 3D Knit covers with graphic patterns.
Sustainability has been central to Kata’s concept from the beginning, guiding its design choices and determining the very characteristics of the seat. The polyester yarn is made from post-consumer recycled plastic. About one kilogram of waste is used to produce one kilogram of yarn-the equivalent of 48 plastic bottles. This implies less plastic in landfills and energy savings in virgin polyester production; in addition, this production choice supports the recycling system, providing additional commercial application to recycled products.
For the base, Kata uses hardwood lumber from FSC-certified production, synonymous with long product durability and longevity. In addition, the paints used are water-based, and the packaging consists of a recyclable plastic bag and lightweight cardboard made without glues. At the end of its life, Kata can be completely disassembled, and all of its materials can be recycled or reused.
Poetry and a Sustainable Vision for Zanotta
A design that merges with nature, blending into it, creating a more intimate and seamless connection with the earth, lakes, bushes, and grass.
“Wherever you happen to encounter them, the Club seats, from the cozy cradle with spontaneous attraction, stimulate gatherings and socializing, they invite – I hope – a pleasant pause,” says the designer.
The structure of the Club seats, made of painted tubular steel strung with PVC rod with internal nylon reinforcement, defines an aerial volume and an enveloping shape that ergonomically accommodates and supports. “The reinforced PVC cord is perfect: it provides the perfect tension, is very durable, and doesn’t wrinkle under the elements,” Rasulo points out.
The Teti coffee table with a circular top is a sculpture in frost-proof fine porcelain stoneware, double glazed by hand with controlled thickness, fired at 1250°C with a 36-hour processing cycle.