Kettal: not only outdoor

The Spanish brand specialising in outdoor furniture since 1964 launched its first indoor collection at the latest edition of the Milan Furniture Fair. We talked about it with creative director Antonio Navarro

Kettal, Eolias, design Antonio Citterio

For Kettal, the transition from outdoor to office furniture was organic and natural.
«Moving from outdoor to office was neither forced nor premeditated», explains Antonio Navarro, the company’s art director. «We moved from outdoor furniture to the production of covered pergolas because they were complementary products». «From outdoor pergolas to office pavilions, the step was short», Navarro continues. «These were in fact elements designed for different uses, but with a similar structure. And from these pavilions we naturally moved on to office furniture, which is, again, a natural extension of the office pavilions. In this way we have moved from outdoor furniture to office furniture through the pavilions».

An emblematic example of the new direction taken by the Spanish company is undoubtedly the Eolias collection, designed for Kettal by Antonio Citterio and presented at the latest edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano. From the combination of a synthetic material such as aluminium and a natural one such as wicker, Eolias was created to meet the need for a transversal piece of furniture, capable of functioning in both outdoor and indoor environments. Like the well-known archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea, which opens off the coast of northern Sicily, Eolias has a common origin and comes in different variants. The collection is characterised by a tubular aluminium structure, to which different ‘buckets’ of different materials can be added.

Kettal, Eolias, design Antonio Citterio
Kettal, Eolias, design Antonio Citterio

Each of the variants is named after an island according to its personality: The 2.9 m and 2.2 m folding tables, by virtue of their size, are named Lipari, after the largest island of the archipelago; the outdoor wicker variant, which is the centrepiece of the collection, is called Salina, after the island that represents, due to its location, the heart of the archipelago; while the outdoor rattan version is called Panarea, the smallest of the islands.

Kettal, Eolias, design Antonio Citterio

The outdoor collection consists of teak tables, stackable armchairs, a club armchair and a club lounge armchair, in outdoor wicker, and an outdoor rattan dining armchair. The indoor version also includes an armchair with wheels and a club armchair.

Kettal, A, design Naoto Fukasawa

Designed by Naoto Fukasawa, the A family of desk chairs reinforces this concept. Conceived for the office, this collection brings solid wood into an environment designed for work, where this material is not usually used much. In line with the recent evolution of workspaces, in fact, the hybrid office concept that integrates the space of the home inspired this furniture project. For the Japanese designer, «the contact of our hands and bodies with wood means coexisting with trees and getting closer to nature.»

Kettal, A, design Naoto Fukasawa
Kettal, A, design Naoto Fukasawa

The A collection consists of a stackable armchair, with upholstered seat and back, and tables in three sizes: Home Deck, Meeting table and Workstation, made of oak in natural and dark colours. The Home Deck and Workstation tables can be fitted with accessories from the same collection, such as the A table lamp, made of ceramic, the front and side desk partition, made of natural wicker, and the ceramic power and USB sockets.