The most famous poolside collection is back: Gae Aulenti’s 'Locus Solus', a series of unmistakably 1960s outdoors furniture has been reproduced by Italian company Exteta, launched at Salone del Mobile earlier this month. Bringing back the collection for the first time since its original launch, Exteta here celebrates the late Italian designer and her penchant for shape and colour.
Originally designed for Centro Studi Poltronova in 1964, the collection featured loungers, tables and chairs in bold shades and matching prints, and was part of the set for the 1969 movie La Piscine, starring Alain Delon, Romy Schneider and Jane Birkin.
Movie star status aside, the collection was one of Aulenti’s most playful design moments, echoing the architectural work she contributed to the city of Milan with her colourful Piazza Cadorna structures.
Composed of symmetric furniture pieces equipped with printed cushions, the collection echoes traditional curved wooden furniture shapes, as well as one of the designer’s own pieces, a rocking chair she created for Poltronova a few years earlier.
An important moment for Italian design, the collection signaled a shift towards the outdoors with a collection that merged functional aspects with a pop attitude. Returning as a faithful reproduction, painstakingly recreated in collaboration with Archivio Aulenti, 'Locus Solus' proves the contemporary significance of the designer’s legacy.
An important moment for Italian design, the original collection signalled a shift towards the outdoors with a collection that merged functional aspects with pop attitude
A complete poolside set, 'Locus Solus' includes a sun lounger, a table and chairs set, a love seat, a pouf and a lamp. Pictured: the collection's love seat
The collection is constructed in tubular steel varnished in bold hues. Pictured: the collection's lamp
The sinuous and symmetric furniture pieces are equipped with printed cushions
This was one of Aulenti’s most playful design moments, echoing the architectural work she contributed to the city of Milan with her colourful Piazza Cadorna structures
A sketch from Aulenti's project concepts
An original poster advertising Aulenti's collection for Poltronova
The collection echoes traditional curved wooden furniture shapes and one of the designer’s own pieces, a rocking chair she created for Poltronova a few years earlier
INFORMATION
For more information, visit Exteta’s website
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