Outdoor Collection

Familiar designs, with a new outdoor twist

With its new Outdoor Collection, ClassiCon consistently extends its design philosophy into the open air. Selected designs have been thoughtfully further developed and optimised in terms of materials to ensure they withstand the demands of outdoor use over time, without losing their distinctive clarity of form. At the heart of this approach lies a nuanced understanding of materiality: surfaces and constructions have been carefully reviewed and refined wherever outdoor use places new demands on them.

With the latest evolution of the Volkshaus furniture series, a familiar design is now available for outdoor use: by replacing oak with oiled robinia, the lounge chair and stool are now perfectly suited to ­exterior settings – gaining a distinctive new ­presence in the open air. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the internationally renowned Pritzker ­Prize-winning archi­tec­­ture studio, the pieces are defined by a clear graphic aesthetic and a striking architectural character. Their sophisticated construction draws inspi­ration from traditional joinery used in Japanese archi­tecture. The cord-strung surfaces lend the designs an airy ­transparency: volume seems to dissolve, light moves through the structure, and the pieces appear both sculptural and light.

Just as Volkshaus Outdoor, the Euvira family is made suitable for outdoor use thanks to oiled robinia wood, allowing it to reveal its clear, elegant presence under the open sky. Designer Jader Almeida skilfully draws on the designs of the great Brazilian masters of the 1960s and 1970s, while shaping an independent, contemporary style for his armchair that is distinctly his own. Precise contours, finely articulated lines and subtle thickening or tapering of the wooden frame lend the pieces both stability and elegance. The cord-strung surfaces create a graphic interplay of lines, lending the design a certain transparency while offering exceptional seating comfort.

The Corker by Herzog & de Meuron is a universal talent – as a stool or side table it cuts a fine figure in a wide variety of settings,
both indoors and out. Herzog & de Meuron took inspiration from the silhouette of a champagne cork when designing its shape. This piece owes its inviting velvety feel to the cork used, which is sourced from local, sustainable forestry in Portugal. Over time, weathering lightens the surface colour and makes the cork softer and more porous. In addition to Corker No. 1, 2 and 3 made of cork, the matt marble version of Corker No. 1 is also perfect for outdoor use. Its smooth, cool surface forms an exciting contrast to the warm, velvety cork and is inviting to the touch.

The Bell Side Table by Sebastian Herkner complements the new outdoor collection in a matt marble version. It is a masterpiece of traditional craftsmanship. This timeless design is characterised by the distinctive bell shape that gave it its name. The solid marble emphasises the design’s sculptural character and, with its individual veining and colouring, makes each table unique. There are four types of marble to choose from: from the light, calm Bianco Carrara to the cloudy grey Grigio Nuvolato, the leafy green and veined Verde Guatemala and the graphically veined black Nero Marquina. The different surfaces create dynamic contrasts with familiar outdoor materials and textures. Sunlight and weathering cause natural stone to appear duller and paler over time.

Made of sheet steel, the side tables in the Diana series by Konstantin Grcic are consciously designed to remain open to multiple interpre­tations and uses. Their distinctive three-dimensional form emerges from just a few intelligently executed folds in the metal – no screws, no joints, no other materials interfere with the purist form. For outdoor use, the Diana A and Diana B versions are available with an anti-rust primer and a special weatherproof and UV-resistant powder coating. As with the indoor version, there are ten striking colours to choose from, ranging from honey yellow and British Racing Green to ocean blue.

The generously proportioned Pallas Table, a further Design by Konstantin Grcic, is available in lengths of 240 cm or 300 cm. An anti-rust primer in combination with robust outdoor powder coating protects the table from the elements. Despite its slim propor­tions, it makes an immediate impression in outdoor spaces. On closer inspection, a wealth of ­sophisticated design details is ­revealed: kinks and notches that break up and animate the smooth surfaces, as well as visible fixings on the underside of the ­tabletop. With a narrow width of only 75 cm, the table encourages direct ­interaction, ­transforming Pallas into a natural ­com­munication hub.