Known for its modern furniture and contemporary plastic chairs, Kartell was at Salone del Mobile in Milan recently to introduce new designs, the Kartell Contemporary Lifestyle. Blending a variety of different styles, the company has worked with over 20 designers to make each approach authentic, and eclectically elegant.
Designer Antonio Citterio created a versatile collection of tables called “Multiplo” that can be customized for finish, color. Piero Lissoni included his “Piuma” seat, a lightweight thermoplastic polymer chair that is just 2mm thick, yet durable enough to withstand outdoor use, and took over two years to create. Ferruccio Laviani designed the “Kabuki” floor lamp and its “Battery” LED light that can be charged by a USB cable. With Kartell’s growing expansion in the lighting world, Laviani also created two extension of the iconic “Fl/y” pendant lamp in two new sizes: extra small and extra large.
Patricia Urquiola created the “Dewey Bookshelf”—an optical illusion of plastic and wood, designed to be perfect in any room. Philippe Starck extended his Aunts&Uncles family with his “Sir Gio” table. This table reflects Starck’s classic transparent polycarbonate table bases that create a sculptural effect. He also debuted the “Uncle Otto” side table, and his “Only Me in the Light” mirror—a light is built into the opalescent polycarbonate mirror. Eugeni Quitllet showed the “Dream’Air,” a first for Kartell form, unique materials atop a geometric case provide a transparent seat.
Not to be overlooked were Ettore Sottsass’ display of iconic items—vases, stools, and a lap— that were designed exclusively for the brand, but never released. The beautiful new collection, “Goes Sottsass: A Tribute to Memphis,” will travel to the brand’s flagship store in New York City during NYCxDesign this spring.
“We are particularly proud this year to present some original objects that Ettore Sottsass designed for Kartell in 2004 but that we have never produced. We have recovered them today wishing, with an event and with some special products, to celebrate a piece of design history,” said Claudio Luti, President of Kartell.
