B—Line upgrades timeless design pieces of the past from 1963 onwards

b—line reinterprets products that have gone down in design history with an extended range of colors, materials and updated manufacturing technologies.

eirini ilia June 9, 2022 7 min

furniture company b—line re-editions iconic designs

Iconic pieces become exclusive as B—Line modifies and interprets products of some of the greatest designers of the past. Through collection TIMELESS, the company masters the highest levels of aesthetics and function through Italian craftsmanship. With expanded color palettes, an updated choice of materials and production technologies, B—Line’s reeditions are developed through tracing autographed drawings and collaborating with the studios that have collected the design legacies. Especially for Salone del Mobile 2022, Joe Colombo’s seating system Multichair and Supercomfort armchair take their stance.

B—Line upgrades timeless design pieces of the past from 1963 onwards - 1 — Supercomfort by Joe Colombo, 1964. ©Beppe Brancato, styling Martina Sanzarello

all images courtesy of B—Line

photography by Beppe Brancato unless stated otherwise

joe colombo’s multichair & supercomfort at salone del mobile

From June 7 to 12, 2022, B—Line becomes the interpreter at Milan’s Salone del Mobile. The project conceived by Tommaso Caldera features the recent logo in line with the updated coordinated image of the company created by Studio Temp. Layout-wise, the composition is seamlessly displayed on the walls of a stand with a neutral and squared off concept. In this deliberately fluid and imperceptible setting, the particular multi-level setting as well as the colors of the materials chosen enhance the iconic value of the exhibited products. The idea is to dedicate a space where a selection of products from the TIMELESS series pay tribute to the great design masters of the past.

B—Line upgrades timeless design pieces of the past from 1963 onwards - 2 — Multichair by Joe Colombo is a convertible system consisting of two individual elements that can easily turn into a conversation/relaxation chair

Among the significant masterpieces exhibited at the 2022 stand is Joe Colombo’s Supercomfort armchair, which the furniture company introduces here for the first time. The product dates back to 1964 and is an iconographic and sculptural seating creation with high figurative and functional content, characterizing the brand since its outset from 1999. Also by the same designer is the special edition of the Multichair seating system upholstered in the 2022 Sprinkles fabric by Kvadrat Febrik, and the ultra-versatile Ring module.

B—Line upgrades timeless design pieces of the past from 1963 onwards - 3 — Supercomfort is characterized by its sculptural appearance and jointless curved, multi-layered oak frame. ©Beppe Brancato, styling Martina Sanzarello

b—line upgrades 11 classic designs for the timeless collection 2022

A great contribution to the aesthetic format of the setting is also the generous Boomerang lounge chair with its elegant side profile in chrome-plated steel from which it draws its name. Also by Rodolfo Bonetto, the TIMELESS collection features the 4/4 table that can be arranged in different furnishing solutions, along with Joe Colombo’s Boby trolley storage unit. Alongside the great classics, included in this release are the chairs, tables and furnishing complements of current designers with an international profile sought by B—Line, including Raffaella Mangiarotti, Ilkka Suppanen, the Zanellato & Bortotto duo and Michael Geldmacher.

b-line-timeless-designboom-fullwidth — Multichair is part of the MoMa an New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. ©Alberto Parise

For conversing or relaxing in, Multichair is a convertible system based on the different combinations of two elements, which can also be used singularly. The cushions have a steel structure covered with polyurethane foam padding and stretch fabric upholstery, while the various arrangements are created by fastening the leather belts and chromium-plated satin-finished steel buckles together in different positions.

B—Line upgrades timeless design pieces of the past from 1963 onwards - 4 — the Boby trolley by Joe Colombo is mounted on 5 steerable wheels and offers 4 solutions for a total of 14 possible models.

‘Furniture in a tower,’ said Joe Colombo himself when describing the iconic Boby trolley. While being part of the permanent collection of MoMA in New York and the Milan Triennale, the product has been put back into production by B—Line in 1999. Designed in 1970 as a dynamic and adaptable service accessory over time, the furniture piece corresponds with modernity to the paradigms of contemporary work, the demands of the home/office, and to cultural and social nomadism. Its ABS structure is made up of modules with drawers and shelves and is mounted on 5 steerable wheels. Boby offers 4 solutions in terms of height with different configurations for a total of 14 possible models.

B—Line upgrades timeless design pieces of the past from 1963 onwards - 5 — Joe Colombo’s Crossed soft padded pouf is characterized by its contrasting cross stitching. ©Beppe Brancato, styling Martina Sanzarello

Originally designed in 1963, Joe Colombo’s Crossed soft padded pouf is characterized by its contrasting cross stitching. The product made of polyurethane foam can be covered in fabric or leather, and is available in two versions with a square and rectangular base that can be combined to create compositions of shapes and colors.

B—Line upgrades timeless design pieces of the past from 1963 onwards - 6 — Ring by Joe Colombo was envisioned in 1964, featuring a versatile container module consisting of a painted steel plate shell and two oak shelves. ©Beppe Brancato, styling Martina Sanzarello

Whether used as a low table, stacked to line walls or act as partitions for storage capacity, Ring by Joe Colombo consists of a painted steel plate shell and two multi-layered oak shelves. Since 1964, the container module can be mounted on casters or simply stay put as geometrical plays begin to unravel.

B—Line upgrades timeless design pieces of the past from 1963 onwards - 7 — Esa by Kazuhide Takahama combines the essentiality of Japanese design with Italian manufacture. ©Beppe Brancato, styling Martina Sanzarello

Kazuhide Takahama designs Esa in 1968, combining the essentiality of Japanese design with Italian manufacture. The hexagonal shaped geometric pouf can be used to create a variety of different shape and color arrangements by placing several elements together. The wooden base is padded with polyurethane foam and upholstered in fabric or leather.

B—Line upgrades timeless design pieces of the past from 1963 onwards - 8 — form follows function with Boomerang by Rodolfo Bonetto, first developed in 1968. ©Beppe Brancato, styling Martina Sanzarello

It was 1968 when Rodolfo Bonetto came up with Boomerang, as its form also suggests. The single armchair with the flat back pocket can be stacked with other modules, allowing the user to create various modular sofas made up of a number of elements. The internal steel structure is filled with expanded polyurethane and covered with fabric; a product also displayed as part of the permanent collection at the MoMa in New York.

B—Line upgrades timeless design pieces of the past from 1963 onwards - 9 — 4/4 by Rodolfo Bonetto also appears with Sean Connery in the 007 film ‘Diamonds are Forever.’ ©Beppe Brancato, styling Martina Sanzarello

From the drawing board of Rodolfo Bonetto, 4/4 represents a typical multi-functional product. Thanks to special applications, four identical elements can be pushed together or superimposed as the curving lines, glossy plastic and easy dovetailing turn the pieces into a round coffee or serpentine table, a modular bookcase or even a corner shelving. Made in injection-molded ABS plastic, the 1969 product is a clever solution for the home, study or waiting rooms. For the cinephiles out there, 4/4 also appears with Sean Connery in the 007 film ‘Diamonds are Forever.’

B—Line upgrades timeless design pieces of the past from 1963 onwards - 10 — Spinny by Joe Colombo swivels and turns as the series of drawers rotates up to 180 degrees around the same axis. ©Beppe Brancato, styling Martina Sanzarello

Whether fixed or wall-anchored, Spinny by Joe Colombo first saw the light in 2004. The chest of drawers has a changing appearance and almost organic references, as is equipped with a series of drawers that rotate up to 180 degrees around the same axis. The Injection-molded ABS drawers are available in three different heights, painted steel for the base while the structure rests on swivel castors in polypropylene.