Pandemic-inspired furniture brings the indoors outside

If there is anything the global pandemic has taught us, is how to adapt to a life lived solely within the confines of our individual living spaces.

But sometimes those four walls start to close in on us and we need to breathe fresh air and immerse ourselves outside (socially distanced, of course).

GALLERY  

This is where Patrick Jouin, along with long time collaborators Pedrali drew inspiration from. Optimising life outside comes down to two key reasons stemming from the pandemic: new social distancing rules, and the attractiveness of nature during and after quarantine. Homes are being redesigned to welcome us for longer periods whilst the only escapes are literally that – to step outside into our gardens, terraces or balconies. These outdoor spaces have become as treasured – or even more so – as our indoors in terms of character, comfort and well-being. SO it only makes logical sense that the outdoor furniture needs to match these new demands at home, for alfresco dining, and even at work.

The transition to furnishing outdoors is not new to Pedrali; it is where their roots lie. Mario Pedrali founded his workshop in the 1960s, as he began producing wrought iron garden furniture. To this day, the Italian brand continues to create oases of outdoor comfort with collections for gardens, terraces and balconies. These balance personality with functionality and beauty with durability as they turn the outdoors into relaxing retreats.

Introduced in 2017, the Pedrali Reva family – designed by Patrick Jouin – combines versatility and practicality with elegance. Smooth lines shape the thin, clean frames of a three-seater sofa and lounge armchair. Generously sized cushions, which can be removed or places freely, embellish the structured with a soft touch. The family then grew to include an equally as elegant sun lounger.

‘The idea of Reva was to recreate the comfort of a bed of pillows for seating,’ explains Joulin. ‘It references an Indian bed where it has just a frame with chords. Our design has a super light and simple cast aluminium frame, which evokes an appearance of elegance. The suspension system is then made from weather-resistant polypropylene to create a solid yet stretchy, comfortable feel. Super puffy, removable cushions soften the image and adds even more comfort.’

The collection’s inherent elegance and comfort has been spun into a more natural edition with the Reva twist, again designed by Patrick Jouin. Continuing the use of polypropylene, the chords now wrap around the steel back and armrests. It accentuates the soft, light lines of the design as well as the ample use of pillows. This more refined, more open touch helps the design match the urban outdoor setting even more so.

‘The Reva twist wraps the supporting chords around the arm and backrests as well as underneath the soft cushions. The design makes for a more relaxed and natural appearance that I really like,’ remarks Patrick. ‘This variation gives the family two personalities: one appears more strict and modern; the second looks a little bit more natural.’

The use of materials – polyurethane chords with die-cast aluminium – ensure the thin structure is lightweight, easily moved, and also stackable when not in use. The choices also deliver high durability to withstand weather and keep its elegant image. They are easy to clean, maintain and sanitize to suit the modern day. This attention to detail makes the new design a perfect companion to enrich open-air spaces.

Images courtesy of Pedrali via Design Boom

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