Noonu is an atoll, a corner of pure relaxation amidst the colours of the Maldives. Noonu is also the name of the new sofa system that Antonio Citterio has designed for B&B Italia.
Noonu is a system of upholstery in which large sizes meet impressive flexibility. The supporting structure disappears from view, creating “islands” which appear to almost float, suspended in mid-air. The seats themselves are deep, with a single, large seat cushion that guarantees extreme comfort, inviting and relaxing whilst also characterising the overall aesthetic. The tilted back is designed to accommodate cushions, which can be distributed however you wish. The design is made even more intriguing by a support element that can be arranged in any manner of positions: a roller cushion bound by sophisticated webbing to a die-cast aluminium frame, which sits beneath the seat cushion. This allows you to use it freely, depending on how the sofa is being used.
Noonu is comprised of four basic elements, namely a square and a rectangle, in addition to the brand-new “piano” and “sail” elements. The piano-shaped base creates a welcoming curve in the backrest, whilst the sail provides a generous, rounded volume at the front. Antonio Citterio has designed them to be “natural chaises longues”, bold evolutions of the peninsula module, new organic forms conceived with total relaxation in mind, just like the special pockets of nature that Noonu is named after.
Noonu is set to be introduced in a new fabric with 12 colour variants: solid colours and mélanges of neutral hues, but also sophisticated shades of blue, green, red and orange. In addition to this fabric, Noonu will also be available in leather.
According to Antonio Citterio, “Noonu is a fully-fledged domestic island”. And this island will draw on the straight and curved lines of its four basic components to establish a dialogue with the walls, but also to take centre stage in the room and create spectacular and dynamic islands.
The elements of Noonu can also stand on their own as individual objects, be combined to create personalised compositions, or be selected to form a dialectical relationship with other elements from B&B Italia’s collections, to form a fully-fledged archipelago of options, where the unique character that distinguishes each individual element does its part in telling a cohesive story.
B&B Italia chooses an unconventional and imaginative way to present Noonu, the new sofa by Antonio Citterio.
In the era of digital launches, the brand has set up a physical presentation, in a pop up space that becomes a stage. The window of its historic Flagship Store in via Durini in Milan opens to reveal an active working construction site. Inside, between the walls and rough floors, a real living room appears. Piero Lissoni, Artistic Director of B&B Italia, explains the concept: "I wanted to combine two models of elegance: the elegance of Noonu, which as soon as you bring it back into its context, with lights and objects, speaks that language. But also that of a construction site that is a bit like a theatrical stage, and like every scenography it carries within itself the measure of elegance ".
A surprising and unusual installation, inaccessible but visible from the street only during the Milan Design Week, from 12 to 18 April.Special Window Installation - photo by Matteo Imbriani
