Bd Barcelona, the forever involved and impressive Spaniards presented some fabulous new concepts for their Milano 2013 campaign.  The new collection “Gardenias” by Jaime Hayon is a family of glamorous outdoor aluminum furniture and complementary terracotta accessories and Konstantin Grcic’s new additions to the innovative ‘Extrusions’ family, Bench B and Side Table B. GARDENIAS Designed by artist, sculptural and industrial designer Jaime Hayon, Gardenias is a further collaboration between the talented Spaniards following their successful Showtime collection.  The result is a fresh response to modern outdoor and terrace furniture, turning their mind to seeking glamour for outdoor spaces. Hayon’s fun new collection works with coloured aluminum chairs with or without a pergola, benches, sculptural vases of fine terracotta and a fun matching watering can. Utilizing aluminum in the same way as wood, turning a rigid material into something of beauty, the chairs comprise 19 pieces of aluminum, the supporting structure loops rhythmically to form the feet and armrests as they fall into the structure holding slotted backs, some of which extend overhead to form a rounded covering, enveloping its recipient with a sense of classic Hayon. The collection expands into an aluminum shelving unit of three tiers that sit under a slashed dome formed again by its supporting aluminum structure. The shapely outdoor range is available in a range of muted hues, complimented by the rawness of the fine terracotta planters and vases, all of which bearing a hood of their own to round out the collection. See Hayon introducing Gardenias the video below.

Jaime Hayon Gardenias Collection for BD Barcelona Design - English with Spanish subtitles from BD Barcelona Design on Vimeo.

EXTRUSIONS COLLECTION ADDITIONS Konstantin Grcic again collaborates with bd Barcelona, working with a classic and re-designing it for a modern market.  Falling into the innovative ‘Extrusions’ family of furniture designed by Konstantin (see KE-ZU Blog post here), Konstantin and bd Barcelona present Bench B. Grcic inspiration was the wrought iron benches with furnish the parkway of the German Academy Villa Massimo in Rome.  Visible references and a nod to the great Mies van der Rohe came from the initial cross-shaped leg of cast aluminium, not dissimilar to that of the famous Barcelona Chair of 1929.   The differences come in the ergonomics of the framed structure and utilisation of aluminium extrusions.  Forming a sum of its parts, Bench B comprises many pieces of extruded aluminium to form the modern adaptation.  Bench B can be upholstered or left as the originating aluminium for suitability for use indoors or out. Available in two sizes, as single bench or a 6 metre longer bench, Bench B is perfect for the contract market, conceived for public and hospitality spaces. Bench B finds itself with an accompanying friend, the aptly named “Side Table B”.  Side Table B, made of one piece of architectural concrete to aesthetically match the outdoor version of Table B, Side Table B works with a visual weight which compliments the long strokes of Bench B, weighting the two together for an encompassing collection of furniture. See Grcic introducing Bench B in the video below.