The Villa for Unopiù, a hybrid space fusing outside with in

With seven themed areas, The Villa is the concept exhibited by Unopiù at Salone del Mobile: terrace, patio, communal area, living room, swimming pool, garden and lounge, also featuring are a series of hybrid pieces combining impressive versatility of use with quality materials.

Designed by Meneghello Paolelli, the Deauville Collection is a modular system of loungers specifically designed for outdoor use. The seating features internal self-draining padding and a waterproof, anti-bacterial covering, while the design means it is perfect for indoor spaces too. Also on show are leather versions of two iconic seats, the Ginger director’s chair and the Emy armchair, which was inspired by the Tripolina folding chair used during the war in Libya in the 1930s.

There is more military influence in the Camp Cot folding bed, made by Australian landscape architect and designer Jaimie Durie. “The initial inspiration came to me when I was thinking about the camp beds used in the field hospitals that served the Italian military during the Great War – those beds are a cult object now. In collaboration with Unopiù, I focused on developing something portable and versatile to ensure the Camp Cot was suitable for a wide variety of uses and settings. We then added some simple, high-end elements, like the teak structure, the stainless steel hinge folding system and the quilted Sunbrella material, which is exceptional for outdoor use – it’s flexible, breathable and resistant to stains, UV rays and bacteria. The overall product is simple yet elegant and meticulously planned down to the smallest detail. I like thinking of it as a piece of ‘luxscaping’ furniture – something that brings luxury outside. This was a furniture design project but it also let me focus on the human body, on choosing energy-efficient materials like FSC wood and on channelling my creative energy into every stunning piece. Ultimately, it was about conveying what I believe is a crucial concept: transterior – merging interiors and exteriors, and in this case bringing the outdoors inside.” It is an approach that Unopiù has certainly grasped with both hands.