B&B Italia
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Home Interiors: Furniture and Design ; Luxury Goods |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Headquarters | Novedrate, Italy |
| Key people | The Busnelli Family |
| Products | Upholstered seating, wood products, Tables, Wall Units, Closets, Complements |
| Employees | 500 |
| Website | www.bebitalia.it |
B&B Italia SpA is an Italian modern furniture company whose luxury products are sold worldwide. The company was founded in 1966 by the Busnelli family, who currently manages the company. On March 1, 2011, the Busnelli family officially became majority shareholders of the company once again and now own 98.5% of the shares. [1]
The United States subsidiary, B&B Italia USA Inc., is located in Manhattan, New York in the Architects and Designers Building above their American flagship store in midtown.[2]
B&B Italia has won 4 Compasso d'oro (Golden Compasses), the most prestigious Italian Design award. In 1974 Sisamo Studio Kairos, 1979 Le Bambole Mario Bellini, 1987 Sity Antonio Citterio and in 1989 B&B Italia became the first company to be recognized with a Compasso d'oro directly awarded to a design manufacturing company. Since 1966 there have been over 1000 B&B Italia designs (including prototypes).
Over 3% of B&B Italia's annual sales is reinvested in Research and Development. In 2010 a new foaming department - a process for which B&B is renowned as being an innovator and for revolutionizing the way upholstery is produced - was established and put into use with an investment of 4 Million Euro.
[edit] Collections
B&B Italia has two divisions the Home Division (focused on the residential market) and the Contract Division (turn-key solutions for hospitality, marine, retail and offices). There are two brands B&B Italia and Maxalto. Within B&B Italia there are 4 different Collections.
B&B Italia Home: Defined by now classic products such as the Up Series Chair by Gaetano Pesce, the Charles Sofa by Antonio Citterio, Tufty Time by Patricia Urquiola and The Moon System Sofa by Zaha Hadid, the B&B Italia Home Collection is the base upon which the company was built. Known for a modern and minimal aesthetic B&B has become one of the most recognized and acclaimed Italian furniture manufacturers in the world. It is renowned for its comfort and attention to detail. [3]
Maxalto: The Maxalto Collection was established in 1975 and is marked by skilled craftsmanship in wood processing. The Collection now includes a wide range of products with shapes drawing inspiration from the typologies and styles of French design between the two World Wars.[4] Maxalto is a comprehensive line of interior furnishings designed and coordinated by Antonio Citterio. Maxalto is often sold within B&B Italia stores but has in the last decade established itself more and more as its own brand. The first stand alone Maxalto store opened in Paris, France. In 2008 the first monobrand store in the US opened in Chicago, IL followed soon after by Miami, FL.. There are four collections within Maxalto: Apta, Simplice, AC and, released in 2010, Acro. Maxalto received a lot of press attention in 2008 when it was featured in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace.
B&B Italia Outdoor: Designed specifically for indoor/outdoor living, B&B has greatly expanded their outdoor seating line since the inception of Canasta by Patricia Urquiola in 2007. Since then, the collection has grown to include outdoor complements by Jean-Marie Massaud and Marcel Wanders in addition to new pieces by Patricia Urquiola and Atelier Oï. New products for the line are currently being designed by Naoto Fukasawa and Antonio Citterio.
B&B Italia Project: The Project Collection is a coordinated range of tables, chairs and soft seating specifically designed and engineered for the contract market. It is often, but not exclusively, used in workplaces, restaurants, hotels, and public spaces.[3] Project furniture uses particular materials suitable for greater endurance; it is rigorously tested and held to the highest industry standards.
B&B Italia Object The Object Collection is a recent addition to the B&B Home Collection and includes vases, trays, bowls, pillows, lighting and various other accessories by renowned designers.
B&B Italia Contract: The B&B Italia Contract Division handles the “turnkey” projects for furnishings and/or layout in hotel areas, offices, retail, institutions, stores, cruise liners, etc. The Contract Division is designed to be a “department of services” that manages complex and highly detailed contracts for furnishings, from projects to logistics and from materials procurement to installation.[4] Recently the Contract Division completed the newly opened W Retreat and Spa of Vieques Island designed with Patricia Urquiola and The Nieuw Amsterdam Luxury Cruise Line for Holland America with 1564 cabins. It was launched in Venice on July 4th. Future projects include the W Hotel St. Petersburg designed by Antonio Citterio and 2 exclusive resorts in Greece.
MOOOI: B&B Italia owns 50% of the design company Moooi who recently opened a Shop-in-Shop in B&B's Soho store in New York City. Moooi is a Dutch company for which Marcel Wanders serves as co-owner and art director. [5]
Distribution B&B Italia and Maxalto have 750 points of sale worldwide including 7 flagship stores (Milan, London, Munich, Paris, Chicago and 2 in New York), 20 monobrand stores and over 70 Shop-in-Shops in the biggest cities in the world. New stores have recently opened in Paris, San Francisco and Tokyo in 2010.
Designers The following designers have worked with the B&B Italia design department to come up with furniture and object designs that simultaneously express the designer's vision and are fully incorporated into the aesthetic of B&B Italia. These designers work with B&B Italia because of the manufacturing mastery and attention to detail that has made B&B the leader in furniture and design production. The list basically reads like a "who's who" of modern design. They are: Antonio Citterio, Patricia Urquiola, Gaetano Pesce, Naoto Fukasawa, Zaha Hadid, Marcel Wanders, Afra and Tobia Scarpa, Jean-Marie Massaud, Jeffrey Bernett, Mario Bellini, Studio Kairos, Paolo Piva, Richard Schultz, Atelier Oi, David Chipperfield, C. Gerhards and A. Glucker, Chris Howker, Ettore Sottsass, Gabriele and Oscar Buratti, Jakob Wagner, Monica Armani, Nicole Aebischer, Roberto Barbieri, Uwe Fischer, Vincent Van Duysen and others.
[edit] References
- ^ Roberto Monelli (May/Jun 2003). "Bold & Beautiful". Frame, international interior design magazine. http://www.framemag.com/article.php?id=50&mag_id=32. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
- ^ "Buyers Guide". Interior Design Magazine. http://resourceguide.interiordesign.net/CompanyInfo.aspx?Pubid=1&CoID=3584639. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
- ^ a b www.bebitalia.it
- ^ a b http://www.pircher.eu/Pircher_cms/filedocumenti/1941_PLANIT_eng.pdf;jsessionid=7A2779D75360404254D53F712F55295E
- ^ "London Design Festival 15-30 September 2006". London Design Festival. July 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-10-22. http://web.archive.org/web/20061022065242/http://www.londondesignfestival.com/Upload/1298_Press+release+July.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
