Poltronova is one of the most important brands in Italian design – a brand which, in the 1960s and 1970s, set the course for radical design, combining art, experimentation and industry in a way that remains a benchmark for contemporary designers to this day. Founded in 1957 in Agliana by Sergio Cammilli, it functioned from the outset as a laboratory of ideas, where the traditional concept of furniture gave way to visions that transcended the boundaries of function and decoration. A pivotal moment in the brand’s history came in 1958, when Ettore Sottsass became artistic director – a designer who opened Poltronova up to bold decisions and collaboration with the most progressive creators of the era.
In the decades that followed, Poltronova became a meeting place for architects, artists and designers such as Gae Aulenti, Angelo Mangiarotti, Archizoom Associati and Superstudio. It was here that pieces were created which are now part of museum collections, including at MoMA, and which shaped the language of postmodernism. The brand did not merely document changes in design culture – it initiated them, treating furniture as a manifesto, a commentary and a tool for criticising mass consumption.
Today, Poltronova remains true to its identity. Contemporary reissues and new designs are not a nostalgic return to the past, but a continuation of the experiment. The brand’s catalogue features contemporary interpretations alongside icons from the 1960s and 1970s, which retain the same formal boldness and passion for material expression. Selected collections demonstrate the breadth of Poltronova’s understanding of design – as a space for play, narrative, construction and deconstruction.
Terrazzo Quarry
In the Terrazzo Quarry design, designer and artist Bethan Laura Wood creates a soft, monumental structure reminiscent of an artificial landscape. A set of upholstered elements – ranging from large blocks to a wedge and a cushion – can be arranged into a composition or scattered throughout the space. The inspiration came from the designer’s residency in a Venetian palazzo, where, in 2010, she was captivated by the countless variations of terrazzo flooring. The result is an original fabric in which fragments of ‘stones’ seem to rise to the surface. As the brand describes it:‘Terrazzo Quarry translates surface into volume, and pattern into landscape, blurring the boundary between two and three dimensions’. It is an object that encourages interaction – climbing, resting, playing – and at the same time a contemporary dialogue with Poltronova’s earlier furniture designs, where the material becomes an experience.
Canton – bench
The Canton bench, designed by Franco Raggi in 1988, emerged from a simple graphic exercise: a continuous black line forming two squares connected by a horizontal segment. Translating this motif into the third dimension resulted in a form which – as Raggi wrote – was not intended to be a comfortable seat, but an abstract object of a neoplastic nature. The side ‘squares’ became open storage compartments for books and magazines, making Canton the ideal piece of furniture for entrance areas. In 2023, Poltronova, in collaboration with the designer, produced a new version in the colour combinations red/green and blue/orange. This is an example of how the brand is able to refresh classics whilst preserving their graphic essence.
Califfo – sofa
Califfo, designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1962, is back in production after years of absence. Its structure consists of a wooden bench with a backrest and side sections, topped with soft cushions for the seat, backrest and armrests. The sofa can serve as a classic living room piece, a guest lounger or a spot for an afternoon nap. Califfo is a multifunctional piece, devoid of the mechanisms typical of commercial sofa-beds. Available in a wide range of colours and in combinations proposed by Studio Sottsass, it combines simplicity with elegance, demonstrating how the designer understood the relationship between form and everyday use.
Mitzi – sofa
The Mitzi sofa, designed by Hans Hollein in 1981, is an example of design that plays on the contrast between materials and symbols. Soft cushions and woollen fabric are paired with walnut wood and a metal frame. The curved line of the backrest coexists with the straight line of the base – masculine and feminine, soft and hard, light and heavy. Hollein creates a piece that is both rigorous and sensual, whilst its name – Mitzi – introduces a subtle anthropomorphic tone. It is a sofa that demonstrates how Poltronova was able to collaborate with designers possessing a strong, architectural language.
Regolo – armchair and sofa
Regolo, designed by Gianfranco Fini in 1975, explores the idea of a modular seat with a geometric, clear-cut form. The piece is available as an armchair, a two-seater or three-seater sofa, and its design incorporates storage compartments for books on the sides and at the back. This makes Regolo ideal for the centre of a room – it is a piece to be admired from every angle. The contemporary reissue features a solid ash frame, and the cushions can be upholstered in velour, linen or recycled wool. It is a design that combines the proportions of the 1970s with the current needs of users.
Pluriball – coffee table
The most contemporary design in the collection is Pluriball by Andrea Mancuso (2026). It is a coffee table that transforms a pop-cultural reference (bubble wrap) into a refined glass object. The tabletop is created by fusing coloured glass discs with a transparent pane, forming a three-dimensional, ‘bubble-like’ surface. This is then combined with a second, coloured layer of glass, which enhances the relief effect. The borosilicate glass legs visually lift the tabletop, emphasising its ethereal quality. The collection includes the Tangerine, Tuscan Green, Sicilia Bronze and Rose variants – each lending its own unique character.
Poltronova remains a brand that constantly redefines the concept of furniture. Its designs, both historical and contemporary, demonstrate that design can be a space for experimentation, storytelling and boldness. It is precisely this consistency that ensures Poltronova continues to inspire collectors, designers and curators, whilst its pieces remain a living part of visual culture. They are becoming design icons.
source: Poltronova
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