There is nothing like lounging outdoor in good weather, be it at your own home, during a holiday, or in public places. Inspired by the natural beauty of the Pacific North West, a family in Canada founded outdoor furniture brand Ratana in 1980 to enable more people to fully embrace the outdoor lifestyle. 

 

Almost four decades later, Ratana has built an expansive offering; its collections can be seen in many prestigious architectural projects in North America and beyond, including five-star hotels, luxury homes and country clubs. Throughout this growth, the company has remained family-owned and maintained relationships across generations. 

 

“We have catered worldwide to the high-end hospitality and contract sectors for nearly four decades,” shares Joanna Leung, VP of Business Development at Ratana. “Our success is a testament of our unique culture, dedication to customer service, strong innovation pipeline and passion for design and construction.”

 

Ratana’s expansion in Asia started in Hong Kong in 2004. Since then, the company has steadily been gaining recognition in the market. “The Asian market is at the forefront of design and style; they also value quality craftsmanship and expert knowledge,” says Leung. It is a perfect match for Ratana.

 

 

The company’s in-house design team keeps its pulse on the development of material and furniture manufacturing technology to create innovative products that can better withstand the great outdoors (and looking good while doing it). Ratana has evolved from using natural rattan to resin wicker. 

 

Leung elaborates, “We evolved to using resin as a way to create timeless pieces which last the test of time. Our resin is lightweight and weather-resistant and available in various colours to match the decor.” In addition to resin wicker, Ratana also uses powder-coated aluminium, ropes, straps and slings, all of which are manufactured using advanced technology. 

 

Ratana’s offerings are designed to be timeless and able to withstand a wide range of outdoor condition – from the frosty Vancouver winter to the humid and wet monsoon in Singapore. 

 

Ratana’s Zunix dining armchairs, Zuni square dining tables with Durawood top and Patio umbrellas create a moment of tranquillity at The Langham Hefei in Anhui Province, China. Here, hotel guests can enjoy their meal near the hotel’s perfumed garden while listening to the sounds of trickling fountain and chirping birds, all at the heart of Hefei’s business, shopping and entertainment districts.

 

 

At St. Regis Lhasa in Tibet, Ratana’s New Miami chairs create a coveted waterfront alfresco dining spot. Ensconced 12,000 feet above the sea level, St Regis Lhasa is one of the highest located luxury resorts in the world. Its architecture is a beautiful combination of Tibetan traditional architecture and modern luxury.

 

And Ratana is one of the select few brands trusted by the hotel to withstand the outdoor weather, provide comfort for its esteemed guests and complement its breathtaking architecture. 

 

 

International hospitality groups have not only furnished their projects with Ratana’s collections, but also specified their own headquarters with them. The rooftop of Marriott’s Headquarters in Shanghai is one example. 

 

 

 

Here, various Ratana products, including Seville club chairs, Lucia coffee tables, Cape Town dining chairs and Copacabana sofas provide the Marriott staff from China and all over the world with a taste of the life on top. 

 

 

Complementing the outdoor rooftop landscape are Ratana’s signature Cantilever umbrellas, which provide generous shaded areas while leaving them free from their columns. 

 

 

Elsewhere on the rooftop, custom-finished Nevada bar chairs and dining chairs add a touch of brightness with their orange finishes to the whole ensemble. Most of Ratana’s collections are available in a wide range of finishes that can be custom-specified to reinforce each client’s spatial branding. 

 

Space is precious in prominent Asian cities like Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore. For this, Ratana offers a wide range of compact furniture collections. One of the brand’s best-selling collections in Asia is the Lamego collection. 

 

 

The collection comprises sofa, armchair, ottoman, dining table and a series of small tables. The armchair and sofa feature a signature crisscrossed backrest structure made with knitted fibre inspired by the architecture of the Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral in Lamego, Portugal. 

 

 

Compact and elegantly playful, the Lamego collection features powder-coated aluminium frames and ropes with synthetic EVA rubber that can withstand stress cracks, moisture, and UV elements. The collection is light both in weight and appearance, featuring tapered legs that pay homage to the mid-century modern design. The collection is available in a wide range of upholstery options.

 

 

Ratana’s presence in Asia continues to gain momentum thanks to a combination of quality, design and decades of experience. The company has exciting projects lined up in Asia, including the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which will be completed this fall. Watch this space!