It is not just an armchair, Up is a tale of design history, the result of the synergy between a design intuition of Gaetano Pesce and the production skills of B&B Italia.
A collection consisting of seven different models of armchairs in various sizes, made entirely of polyurethane with stretch fabric upholstery available in different colors, the Up series designed by Gaetano Pesce is among the most emblematic cases of Radical Design.
Up is almost fifty years old, Pesce in fact designed it in 1969, and the resounding visual impact it makes in the design industry is a testament to how much the stroke of a single designer can change the thinking of many.
Gaetano Pesce’s design is sculptural, balanced between curved geometries and pop identities, and the choice to use bright colors is based on emotions, those of joy, optimism, and sensuality.
Of all the models in the series, the most famous is Up5 paired with the Up6 ottoman, ideally conceived by the designer as “a woman with a ball and chain,” represented in form and color through very obvious choices.
The importance of Gaetano Pesce’s Up armchair is underscored by its presence in many permanent collections in the world’s major design museums, such as the Triennale Design Museum in Milan and MoMA in New York.
Up is the result of the meeting of art and design, of concept and practical realization, and this makes it considered one of the most famous industrial design products in the world.
