Upholstery

The reissue marks the design’s 50th anniversary

Reborn 50 years after its launch Camaleonda is back

B&B Italia has reintroduced Mario Bellini’s Camaleonda half a century after its launch. The design was created to fill a void, according to Bellini. ‘At the beginning of the 1970s, upholstered furniture for the home had stagnated into the tired, traditional stereotypes and radical-provocative elitist forays into the future that, although stimulating, rarely challenged the relationship between the evolution of new patterns of behaviour in the home and the types of furniture available on the market at the time.’

The sofa was intended as an architectural element, capable of transforming the landscape of the interior space it inhabits – a landscape that is neither immobile nor permanent, as its chameleon-like nature involves change and transformation.

In its reissue, Camaleonda preserves the elements that have made it a contemporary classic. By mutual agreement, Bellini and B&B Italia decided to keep the 90cm x 90cm seat 

Modules can be unhooked and recombined at will

All B&B Italia fabrics and leathers are available

PHOTO BY ALBERT GREENWOOD

Mario Bellini has 25 works in the permanent design collection of New York’s MoMA

module faithful to the original project, together with the backrest and the armrest. The original cutting pattern was used for the new edition.

The generous polyurethane padding that forms the characteristic capitonné design remains unchanged, and is still manufactured with the innovative system of cables, hooks and rings created by Bellini, which defines the look and modularity. Thanks to the tie-rods and the rings, in fact, the modules can be unhooked and recombined at will, allowing the sofa to adapt to an evolving taste and the dynamic needs of those using it.

While many things have remained unchanged, the composition of the interior has been completely redesigned, with no room for nostalgia. ‘When I was asked to update Camaleonda it was immediately clear to me that I should

never or would never be able to do anything to change the shape. No, the way it was intended is as good today as it was then. Change the materials? Yes – and that’s why I had a conversation with a company that is a leader in terms of its ability to transform a piece of furniture into a sustainable product,’ says Bellini.

The ‘sandwich’ structure of Camaleonda is made up of recycled or recyclable materials that can be easily disassembled. The seat, backrest, armrests and bases are made of wooden panels. The sofa rests on spherical f eet made of FSC certified beech. The padding of the seat, backrests and armrests is made of PU in various levels of density and firmness.

The highest degree of complexity lies in the seat, where elements are shaped and assembled to allow every layer to interact, at the same time

The original 90cm x 90cm seat module has been retained The sofa has spherical feet

guaranteeing a high level of comfort. The layers generate empty spaces or pockets designed to create a comfortable spring effect. The engineering and composition of the seat allows the interior elements of the sofa to be disassembled and recycled. The padding is protected by a removable Dacron cover of recycled PET. Visit: www.bebitalia.com

Overtime Sherborne has returned to full capacity

Roma stool, standard recliner and fixed three-seater sofa

Sherborne Upholstery is absolutely delighted at how busy it has been this summer. ‘When we were planning our return to work, one of our main concerns was would we be busy enough to keep everyone fully employed up to Christmas? Well, we had no need to be concerned because order levels have been through the roof in recent weeks,’ says Chris Fort, Sherborne Upholstery chairman.

‘We are clearly seeing the benefits of a substantial pent-up demand over the lockdown period and beyond, with so many people not spending on holidays abroad, not spending on meals out for many weeks and either refurbishing their homes or just simply getting fed up with their old furniture.’

The company has been so busy that most departments have been working at full overtime levels throughout the summer, with an outstanding response from its employees to the need for overtime hours.

Sherborne was pleasantly surprised at how ready most of its customers were to accept deliveries of its new January ranges shortly after re-opening. The Roma and Keswick Classic in particular have been extremely popular.

The Roma offers a more contemporary look than most of Sherborne’s established ranges, with a particularly comfortable back design, featuring a distinctive headroll, and soft arms.

The Keswick Classic takes its most popular recliner/suite range and adapts this to suit a new wood leg design in a choice of natural or mahogany finishes. The range comprises a standard fixed chair, two-seater and standard powered recliner: Sherborne’s first powered recliner on legs.

Sherborne’s new January adjustable bed launch was the Devonshire, based on the popular Dorchester design but offering a sophisticated fully sprung base for more comfort. This is available with either a corded or a remote RF handset and in a wide selection of 25 new bed fabrics in the Sunset Collection.

‘As we have been so busy, we have introduced just one new range for the autumn, which is an addition to the popular Malham riser recliner range as a standard recliner, fixed chair, and fixed and reclining two and three-seater sofas have been added. These can be ordered in either fabric or soft covers with a choice of dark or light knuckles.

‘We are certainly set fair for the autumn and are pleased to support the new British Furniture Confederation’s Buy British campaign which we hope will be a great success,’ says Fort. www.sherborneupholstery.co.uk

Keswick classic recliner and fixed two-seater sofa (above) and Malham (left)

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