Magazine Design Icons

Trend re-editions: the bright second life of design icons

21 October 2021

Big companies give new life to design classics, to celebrate them and take them into the future

From the archives to the limelight, design icons find new lifeblood in the re-editions that more and more companies choose to make. The challenge is to find the balance between self-quotation and distortion of the original projects and the right path is that of those who preserve the original project while at the same time giving it a new reason for living. A reason anchored to the needs of the present, possibly of the future: from environmental sustainability to resilience, to the hybrid nature of many spaces designed today. The home is also a workplace, public spaces are as welcoming as domestic contexts and so on. The culture of design has grown in recent years in parallel with environmental sensitivity, and this is another aspect that companies have at heart in design. So why choose a re-edition? The reasons are different: to have an updated design icon at home with details and colors more in tune with the space, to focus on a sustainable but iconic alternative, to combine classic design and current performance.

Among the re-editions presented in recent months, here are some not to be missed.

Tato Italia: R63 armchair designed in 1963 by Ignazio Gardella

The R63 armchair really looks like a modern day project and yet it was designed by Ignazio Gardella in 1963. It was originally intended for the dining room of the Cavalieri-Hilton hotel in Rome with the idea of reproducing the classic bergère in a simplified key and clean lines. Another element with a contemporary taste is the upholstery that continuously covers the entire structure, including the legs. The colors available reflect current needs while in harmony with the original design.

Molteni&C: Round D.154.5 armchair designed in 1953 by Gio Ponti

Essential but comfortable, the Round D.154.5 armchair (on the cover) is characterized by the same shape of the seat and back. It is the so-called “soap” shape that reflects the aesthetic taste of the years in which it was designed, which is back in trend today. Used by Ponti in many of his iconic projects, it is now brought back to life as part of the Molteni & C Heritage Collection program, in collaboration with the Ponti Archives and is available in all Molteni & C fabrics and leathers.

Tacchini: Pigreco chair designed by Tobia Scarpa in 1959 and Orsola sofa designed by Gastone Rinaldi in 1960

Tacchini is also devoted to archival research, to the rediscovery of thick projects whose aesthetics are current today. In 2021 he reissued the Pigreco chair, the first project by Tobia Scarpa, brought by the architect in his degree thesis at the University of Venice. Essential, characterized by a rounded back, is a chair of simple and timeless elegance. Tacchini also reissues the Orsola sofa, which reflects the aesthetics of the 60s in which the sofas began to be rounder and softer. The re-edition includes an innovative padding that makes it even softer and more welcoming.

Cassina: Soriana sofa and armchair designed in 1969 by Afra and Tobia Scarpa

Compasso d’oro, the undisputed icon of upholstery design, the Soriana collection returns with Cassina in an edition that respects the original project, however, bringing it into the world of sustainability using organic foam and recycled Pet. Scarpa himself, in describing the collection, declared: “Soriana is a breath of indispensable relaxation.”

Axolight: Bul-bo floor light designed in 1969 by the Gabetti and Isola studio

The Bul-bo lamp was designed to illuminate the Olivetti Residential Center in Ivrea in a non-conformist context that still influences the design culture of workspaces today. The re-edition of the lamp faithfully preserves the original aesthetics, making technological innovations that allow for the optimization of the lighting function.

Flos: Parentesi floor light designed in 1971 by Achille Castiglioni & Pio Manzù

Parentesi is not only an icon but is also one of the most used and versatile lamps for both domestic and professional environments. In celebrating the 50th anniversary of its birth, Flos has decided to entrust the reissue to the Calvi & Brambilla studio. The result? Two new and lively colors, Turquoise and Orange Signal, the choice of which is explained as follows: “The first was dear to Castiglioni who had used it for the interiors of the house. The second was the color that Manzù used for his prototypes ”, the architects explain.