Veerle's blog

Nothing as nice as spending the afternoon in a lovely garden enjoying the view. That’s eactly what we did in the previous part 1 and part 2 about Belgian companies that specialize in design outdoor furniture. In this final piece we expand across my border to see what others have to offer. I’m sure there’re more brands out there but I tried to find the ones that have design running through their veins.

Viteo

Austrian architect Wolfgang Pichler came up with idea of designing a series of outdoor furniture in 2002, when he was looking for some to use in his own garden. He intended the series to meet his own design standards and the requirements of a top quality product.

The perfect synthesis of form and function would convey relaxation and quality of life in fast-moving times!

Viteo is derived from Latin viteus (the vine), and is a homage to the beauty of the natural surroundings in the wine region of southern Styria, where the company is based.

Q Stool

Q Stool was designed by Danny Venlet. Danny was born in Australia and grew up in Victoria together with his Dutch parents. He eventually moved to Belgium and graduated in architecture. His style could be described as international and contemporary.

BendyBay

VITEO Shower

Danny Venlet's Shower design for Viteo shoots off water jets which spray up in a circle around you as high as 4 metres. The jets are automatically activated when weight is transferred onto the platform. They gently fall down in the middle and guarantee a sensual shower experience. This reverse shower has won the Red Dot Design Award for 2007

Bench with back rest

Swing

Table 90 + lounge chair

Dedon

At the end of the `80's, former professional Bayern Munich footballer, Bobby Dekeyser, decided to develop high quality outdoor furniture that could stand up to wind and weather. He used his family´s know-how, they had owned a plastics manufacturing plant for decades, to develop a new, uniquely sturdy synthetic fibre. This was the cornerstone of DEDON furniture. In 1990 Bobby Dekeyser founded DEDON and registered this unique fibre as an international trademark. One of the three top designers is Belgian, namely Frank Ligthart from Antwerp.

Dedon has my personal preference as it is not only very beautiful but also extremly strong. Here are some questions from the FAQ:

Can DEDON furniture be kept outdoors during the winter?
Thanks to the robust DEDON fibre, the furniture is not sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Even extreme cold (up to 20°C below) does not affect the material.

What about rain and saltwater?
DEDON furniture is resistant to them. Even chlorine water or sun creams and tanning oils are not a problem, nor is ultraviolet light.

Won’t the colour fade?
No. The DEDON fibres are thru-dyed and are reliably indelible.

Leaf

Beautiful sunlounger designed by Frank Ligthart. Taking its inspiration from organic forms, this sunlounger could be a sculpture as well as a resting spot.

Yin Yang

The idea came to designer Nicolas Thomkins on the Island of Cebu’s beach of Olango. He sketched out the first draft of the design in the sand with a stick: a piece of furniture made up of two elements that appear as if they were formed by nature like stones worn down by water or sand dunes shaped by the wind.

Obelisk

Looks handy as it can be stacked to this bullet shaped form.

Hemisphere

Orbit

Lounge

Ego furniture

Ego Furniture has its HQ in Paris. According to designer Thomas Sauvage the furniture is suggesting "elegance and creating desire through pure shapes and noble materials, for long-lasting emotion and seduction".

Tandem sunlounger

Inspiration of its creator Thomas Sauvage: conviviality, function and modularity.

Gloster

Gloster started out as a specialist, UK based manufacturer of teak garden benches and seats in 1981. Whilst the Gloster name is most frequently associated with teak furniture, in recent years they're also into alternative materials such as sling, stainless steel and woven man-made wicker.

Eclipse

Sit, sleep, lounge or sunbathe, the unique, versatile design allows for an endless array of possibilities.

Luna

The crisp and understated appearance of the design is achieved with the use of power-coated aluminium combined with hardwearing, yet comfortable sling.

Kettal

Kettal was founded in 1964 and started with distributing aluminium camping and beach furniture and then went onto manufacturing aluminium and wooden furniture.

Kettal - Maia

Designed by Patricia Urquiola, born in 1961 in Oviedo, Spain. Patricia has collected many design awards. Recent work includes projects for Depadova, Moroso, Agape, B&B, Alessi, Driade, Foscarini, Kartell, Flos, Molteni, artelano, and others.