Molteni&C’s Debut Outdoor Collection Is Filled with Design Powerhouses

rounded loveseat with winged back on right and left side
Molteni&C’s Outdoor Collection Is a Summer HitMax Zambelli

Launching an entirely new category as a heritage furniture company requires both respect for one’s roots and a vision for the future. Molteni&C’s creative director, Vincent Van Duysen, certainly had this in mind while working on the brand’s debut outdoor collection.

For Van Duysen, Molteni’s extensive archives were a huge source of inspiration: An entire seating line arose from Luca Meda’s Palinfrasca sofa, originally designed in 1994, while Gio Ponti’s classic D.150.5 chaise longue and the D.154.2 armchair have been reissued with an eye to sustainability.

round daybed detail with wood frame and large green woven inserts and plenty of plump matching pillows
The Palinfrasca daybed.Max Zambelli

Van Duysen also looked to contemporary designers Foster + Partners and Ron Gilad to reinterpret, respectively, the Arc dining table in a cement finish and the Panna Cotta side tables in iron and lava stone. Van Duysen’s own suite of furniture, Timeout, consists of a sofa, lounge, and dining furniture with elements of woven poly-propylene rope.

brown fabric chaise longue with a sleek wooden frame
The D.150.5 chaise longue.Max Zambelli

“The collection is defined by an innate sense of savoir faire,” chief marketing officer Giulia Molteni says. “There is a strong emphasis on craftsmanship, delving into the rich tradition of Italian design.”

By striking the right balance between legacy and modernity, Molteni&C’s migration outdoors is poised for success, Italian style.

may 2023 cover elle decor
Hearst Owned

This story originally appeared in the May 2023 issue of ELLE DECOR. SUBSCRIBE

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