Charles 20

B&B Italia celebrates the 20th anniversary of Charles, the iconic seating system designed by Antonio Citterio in 1997, showcasing a special version which offers two new coverings in orange/red and grey/blue colours, shades Charles Eames identified with in the ‘60s, and features Charles 20 in the dedicated installation designed by Migliore+Servetto Architects. The Charles sofa, framed by a graphic scenic backdrop, surrounded by history, with its elegance and balance, it represents a constant. Behind it, images from the last twenty years appear – events, objects, scientific and technological discoveries emerge as striking images from the semi-transparent graphic backdrop, in a dynamic overlapping of historical references. The relentless march of time is shown through the evolution of cities and populations displayed in a stratification of graphics and data. Recent skylines, from Shanghai to Milan, animate and outline a constantly evolving landscape. Everything is dynamic and constantly changing, while at the centre, the Charles sofa, stays constant, modern – an iconic and timeless piece, dominating the scene. A leading piece in contemporary lifestyle, Charles owes its immense success to both its shape and aesthetics and to the research and innovation that went into its design: values which are part of B&B Italia’s DNA and underlying themes in all of its projects. The characteristics which have made it a contemporary classic are numerous: a slim but strong structure, thanks to the metal frame embedded in cold polyurethane foam mouldings, a single seating cushion, a light appearance accentuated by the essential design of the “inverted L”- shaped die cast aluminium feet. High seat modularity starting with sixteen elements per type and different sizes - this is the concept behind Charles. The sixteen elements offer a wide variety of linear and corner compositions while the chaise-longue end units make peninsula compositions possible for open spaces. 20 years on from its debut, Charles reconfirms its qualities as long seller and bestseller product of the company and is still nowadays a reference model in the world of design worldwide. The exhibition will take place in the B&B Italia’s stores worldwide after it spins off from Milan’s via Durini showcase.