Furniture of all shapes and sizes, designed and made from all across the world are launched each year in Milan – including outdoor furniture. But as the sunburnt country, is there anything we can learn from what’s new on the market?

The Australian climate means we can spend most of the year enjoying the great outdoors. Whether it’s sitting, lounging, eating or socialising it could be argued that an outdoor spirit is part of our national identity.

As such, the demand and need for durable, inspiring outdoor furniture in Australia should be obvious. We should be leading the charge to elevate what outdoor living means.

Even though there are some stand-out outdoor furniture options designed right here on home soil, we thought it would be interesting to see what was being served up internationally by rounding up some of the latest straight from the Salone del Mobile Milan.

Extremis

Extremis is all about creating social settings, outside. Its furniture is about human connection and aspires to improve quality of life. Belgian-designed, Extremis also takes sustainability seriously.

For the Salone this year, Extremis has released Bistroo. An extension to an existing range, the new option has a side-by-side seat with an integrated table. Perfect for people watching, or for fitting onto a narrow balcony space, the Bistroo aspires to create a new kind of intimacy in outdoor seating. Bistroo recognises the need for space-saving outdoor seating options, useful for multiple typologies.

Vondom

Spanish brand Vondom is not afraid to make a statement through its furniture. Lavish, luxurious and sometimes a bit odd, Vondom makes a splash in the outdoor department.

This year, the brand released new collections designed by the effervescent Marcel Wanders, as well as a range by Ramon Esteve. Although different in form, they could both be mistaken for indoor furniture. Each furniture piece in Marcel’s Suave collection plays on the more modular and geometric forms of Ramon’s Tablet. 

Just as more homely touches are making their way into our workplace, it seems like a similar thread is happening across outdoor living options. Comfortable seating for all-weather options? Yes please.

B&B Italia Outdoor

Over the years B&B Italia has continued to add to its wide range of outdoor options – from the beautiful and delicate Crinoline chair to the more bulbous Fat Sofa – B&B Italia uses design to elevate outdoor environments.

Adding some new pieces to the growing range, B&B Italia’s shapes continue to be organic in nature and materiality – the Tobi Ishi and Tabour tables being a statement which adheres to this M.O.

Follow @indesignlive and #milanindesign on Instagram for regular Milan Furniture Fair updates, including some more outdoor pieces.