What is B&B Italia? And how it got its reputation in several decades? Let’s discover the minimalism and modernism displayed by the famous Italian brand.
Brand History of B&B Italia
Founded in 1966, B&B Italia, compared to other long-established brands like GIORGETTI, which celebrated its 120th anniversary several years ago, and CASSINA, which turned 90 in 2017, is relatively young at just 57 years. However, once you delve into the history of how it has become a representative brand of Italian modern home furnishings, you can’t help but find the story remarkably legendary, being discussed enthusiastically over the years. Understanding this history brings warmth to these Italian furniture pieces in the writer’s eyes, transforming them from mere cold products.
In 1966, Pietro Busnelli, foregoing the inheritance of his family business BUSNELLI (already a distinguished furniture brand), chose to forge a new path. He collaborated with Cesare Cassina to create a new brand, C&B, with the name straightforwardly representing Cesare Cassina and Pietro Busnelli. From its inception, the company placed a high emphasis on the development of new technologies. Polyurethane, a material now widely used, was still in its infancy.
Successfully developing and mass-producing polyurethane allowed C&B to rise rapidly and establish itself in the furniture industry, symbolizing a new industrial culture in the indoor home furnishing sector. Later, as the company grew and Busnelli wanted to reclaim Cassina’s shares while Cassina wanted to focus more on its own company’s development, the company was renamed B&B. Practically, this meant the company’s shares were 100% owned by Pietro Busnelli, but another implication is “brother & brother,” signifying that although they were developing independently, they remained good brothers and would cooperate amicably (it has nothing to do with bed & breakfast). To this day, B&B allocates a certain proportion of funds for technological research and development annually.
Classic Products
B&B has numerous classic products, and it’s important to note that the names of the product designers will be included. The European design circle highly values original design. All products, production years, and designers are easily accessible and prominently introduced on the product page. Moreover, designers can design for multiple brands simultaneously, which will be touched upon in subsequent designer introductions.
The Charles Sofa, designed by Antonio Citterio, was introduced in 1997.
In 2017, B&B launched CHARLES 20 to commemorate the sofa’s 20th anniversary on the market. The design pays homage to the 1950s and 60s, and its name comes from American designer, architect, and film director Charles Eames, who always believed that “details are not just details. They make the design.” These elements make the design meaningful. This concept is enough to explain Charles, B&B’s best-selling sofa, and the power of design can also be seen in the details: the inverted L-foot and slender protruding base both give the sofa a light image.
The HUSK leisure chair, designed by Patricia Urquiola, undoubtedly became a representative work of B&B when it was introduced in 2012. HUSK itself means shell/skin. The single chair shell uses high-density polyurethane resin material, and the diamond-stitched soft pack part has become its biggest feature. Whether from craftsmanship or sitting feeling, HUSK presents an excellent experience.
UP Series Sofa & Armchair
The UP series, designed by Gaetano Pesce, currently has two models. UP JUNIOR, a children’s model, is small in size, suitable for children over 3 years old, and is available in one color, a red that catches the eye. The SERIE UP 2000, an adult model, is available in solid colors and stripes.
In 2019, the Milan Exhibition B&B booth highlighted the UP armchair as a 50th-anniversary commemoration. The UP series is full of modernist beauty and metaphor. This armchair configuration is quite special in structure and also refers to the human body shape. The chair symbolizes a large, comfortable womb, reminiscent of ancient fertility goddess statues.
However, it has something extra: a round footstool tied to the chair. Therefore, a comfortable, convenient image will be integrated with a more symbolic female image, while a chain ties a ball to her foot. Gaetano Pesce explained this project as follows: “At that time, I was telling a personal story about my concept of women: I think women have always been prisoners they are very reluctant to be. So, I decided to design this armchair as a female shape with chains and balls, which is the traditional image of prisoners.
In 2019, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the UP5 armchair and UP6 footstool combination, B&B launched pure color styles including orange, sea blue, dark green, etc., and a yellow-green striped style during the Milan Design Week.
Over the years, the UP5_6 armchair has become an international symbol, with different names, from “Big Mama” to “Burst.” It is still a very popular product.
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