Innovation and cutting-edge design are the values that have defined B&B Italia since its inception, a company that has helped write the history of design and, consequently, of living. The company—which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year—revolutionized the world of interior design in the late 1960s by being the first in Italy to introduce a new technology for the production of upholstered furniture, based on an intuition of its founder, Piero Ambrogio Busnelli. The same bold and pioneering vision was replicated in the outdoor context when, in 2007, it created its first outdoor collection with the specific idea of bringing all the intrinsic qualities of its indoor collections—such as research, technological innovation, ergonomics, creativity, quality, and comfort—outdoors. A concept that is trendy today but was unexplored at the time. For B&B Italia, the outdoor dimension was not just about functionality, materials, and durability, but also embraced the idea of all-round living, and of course style and comfort, just like indoors. Based on this philosophy, he created his first designs, which gave a new expression to the open air. Year after year, the outdoor catalog has developed and grown, thanks in part to the contribution of international designers, who have created a complete, eclectic, often iconic, and always versatile range.
Borea by B&B Italia Outdoor, design Piero Lissoni – Photo © Tommaso Sartori
Seating, tables, and accessories create settings that are in direct contact with the interiors and, at the same time, with the landscape: the lines are elegant and refined, the materials are explored for their potential to offer lasting relaxation, and the fabrics are explored in terms of texture and pattern to provide tactile sensations reminiscent of those found in living rooms. In this way, B&B Italia has once again revolutionized the way we inhabit spaces and experience furniture.
Some collections are emblematic of this design evolution, first and foremost Erica, designed by Antonio Citterio. Launched in 2017, the collection has evolved naturally and continuously over time, establishing itself as an evolving system capable of meeting outdoor needs in a wide variety of contexts with its distinctive and timeless design. The collection stands out for its visual and formal lightness: powder-coated die-cast aluminum structures that offer lightness and durability, polypropylene webbing specially designed for outdoor use, and the design of the foot that rests on the ground, giving a sense of airy continuity.
Erica by B&B Italia Outdoor, design Antonio Citterio – Photo © Federico Cedrone
Thanks to this design approach, the Erica collection is able to furnish and reflect the different worlds of outdoor living: from dining to swimming pools, from boating to gardens, to city terraces. The breadth of the range and its versatility adapt to different styles and uses: multiple types of sofas—linear, curved, modular—allow you to compose a true modular system, complemented by chaise longues, daybeds, armchairs (also with high backs), sun loungers, chairs, dining tables, and coffee tables (with elegant tops in natural teak or cast glass). New for 2026 is the introduction of linear and curved sofas with high backs, designed to offer superior comfort and an even more welcoming seat. Added to these is the sofa that originates from the combination of two curved elements, ideal for promoting socializing and conviviality thanks to its particularly enveloping shapes. The range is completed by a series of coffee tables in different finishes.
The formal richness of the collection finds a perfect parallel in the range of finishes: cream white, aquamarine green, and olive bronze, in addition to the classic anthracite and dove gray for the structures; beige, hay green, anthracite, and dove gray for the weaves. The fabrics come in numerous coordinating striped and solid color variations, designed for outdoor use and to ensure durability and comfort.
Erica by B&B Italia Outdoor, design Antonio Citterio – Photo © Federico Cedrone
Ribes by B&B Italia Outdoor, design Antonio Citterio
While Erica is the best-seller in B&B Italia’s outdoor collection, other collections follow suit. These are Ribes and Borea. Designed by Antonio Citterio, Ribes is a modular seating system that focuses on flexibility and customization: sofas, central and end elements, chaise longues, and poufs, available in numerous types and sizes, allow you to interpret outdoor space in a very personal way, thanks also to the possibility of choosing from a wide range of upholstery and finishes. The design inspiration behind the collection is the “futon” base, to which armrests and backrests (in two types, with a polypropylene fiber woven frame or roller) can be freely attached, and chair cushions designed as comfortable mattresses on which to relax.
Ribes by B&B Italia Outdoor, design Antonio Citterio
Piero Lissoni, on the other hand, designs Borea with a different stylistic approach, characterized by enveloping elegance. The common thread running through the collection is the tubular metal structure with its fluid, continuous design, without joints or interruptions. The seats feature generous, welcoming cushions that make up two- and three-seater sofas, a large armchair, a low armchair, and a dining chair. The collection is completed by coffee tables and dining tables that echo the design and colors of the seating structures and combine them with lava stone tops glazed in sage, clay, and ocean blue.
Borea by B&B Italia Outdoor, design Piero Lissoni – Photo © Tommaso Sartori
Borea also stands out for an innovative feature that is hidden from view: the seat cushions are made of 100% polyester fiber from recycled PET plastic bottles, which envelops a polyurethane insert with differentiated density. The collection reflects a focus on sustainability that is transversal to the company’s entire range. B&B Italia’s design process takes into account the entire life cycle of the product—from the creative idea to the choice of materials and production, right through to the user experience. It goes even further by anticipating the end of the cycle, i.e., the recovery and disposal of the materials that make up the product. With this in mind, Borea is an eco-design collection with exceptional features in terms of design, comfort, durability, and circularity. It uses recycled and recyclable materials that can be completely separated at the end of their life cycle.
Photo © Federico Cedrone, Tommaso Sartori
