This year we celebrate the 10th anniversary of one of Pedrali’s widest and most successful collections. This is Babila.
August 1st, 2023
Designer Odo Fioravanti had no idea ten years ago that his designs for the Babila chair would spark a decade-long journey of exquisite design and an ever-growing collection now at the heart of the Pedrali legacy.
The first version of the Babila chair was made entirely from wood. Fioravanti chose the name Babila, after Babylas, one of the saints of the church of Milan. The name represents Fioravanti’s loving tribute to the city of Milan, a city which he felt welcomed him with open arms and gave him the opportunities to build his life anew.
This was the beginning of a collection which would never stop growing, with the family adopting new members each year since its conception. After the original wooden design came an innovative plastic variation, followed by plastic chairs with wooden or metal legs, wooden stools, armchair versions, an XL variant and, finally, the Twist model for outdoor use: the latest in a long string of instant-classics with a rich legacy.
The Babila collection is characterised by a foundational sense of agility. This agility gives Babila the ability to flow between tradition and innovation, combining intergenerational knowledge of superior craftsmanship and design practices with the latest developments in technology and luxury materials. Babila’s flexibility between values of history and modernity gives it a timeless aura which cannot be denied.
Fioravanti reflects on the success of the collection with fondness and pride.
“Babila has become a Pedrali best seller, and this gives me a great sense of satisfaction. I am especially delighted to have been able to work on this project for such an extended period of time, taking care of each item in the collection down to the smallest detail and responding to the market’s ever evolving needs.”
Fioravanti’s continued hands-on involvement with the development of the collection has yielded some of the most recognisable figures in Pedrali’s entire range. The Babila XL “recycled grey” armchair is one such silhouette, an armchair poised on the precipice between tradition and innovation. A polypropylene shell made from entirely recycled materials – of equal halves consumer and industrial plastic waste – creates a striking shape which harmonises beautifully amongst the soft ash wood legs.
Pedrali’s latest edition, the elusive Babila Twist, continues the Babila legacy of harmony and form. Shaped by a profile of alternating straight and curved lines, the Babila Twist represents a connection between the rigidity of the artificial world and the soft curves of the human body. The combination of a woven body and a tubular steel frame articulates a balance between comfort and strength; the very junction where all outdoor furniture must meet.
Pedrali’s undeniable legacy of expert craftsmanship and world-leading design is built on a foundation of beloved collections like Babila. Learn more of the story behind Babila here with Pedrali.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
A hospitality venue in the heart of Osaka comprising four dining options – a place where nostalgic pastimes meet high-end dining.
With Milan 2024 only a few weeks away, we sneak a view of some of the most exciting pieces set to go on show – from lighting design to furniture, here are nine preview products.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
What’s in a name? At Wardle, a new name marks the next progression in the architecturally designed road for this outstanding practice.
Simon Liley, Principal Sustainability Consultant at Cundall, writes about how cyberpunk dystopias haven’t (quite) come to pass yet – and how designers can avoid them.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
When iconic brands wield their influence, the ripples extend far beyond aesthetics. And so when the MillerKnoll collective formed, the very concept of design shifted, supercharging the industry’s aspiration to create a better world into an unwavering sense of responsibility to do so.