


Architonic ID: 20116690
Anno di Lancio: 2020
Concetto
Minimalist and innovative, the Ayana collection becomes a new chapter in the story that connects B&B Italia to Naoto Fukasawa. It sees wood as the protagonist, interpreted in an unusual way, with a pleasant oriental touch.
The entire collection is based on structures with a round section, a far cry from the traditional square section that defines many outdoor furnishings. As if they were made of sticks simply set next to one another, the Ayana structures are made of natural teak. The wood is unpainted to allow it to age and evolve in the most genuine way, respecting the intrinsic characteristics of this material. An ancestral choice that recalls ancient tools and primitive constructions, which however conceals ingenious technical solutions. The structures are also distinguished by the presence of invisible joints that do not include metal elements such as screws, but only wooden pins. An aesthetic choice that is also a functional one: in fact, this allows the wood to continue its transformations as weather conditions change, without however causing irreversible cracking or deformation.
In Fukasawa’s vision, round sections and untreated wood create a more natural look that is completed with a seat style that is halfway between the Far East and contemporary Scandinavian. If the depths and heights are a clear reference to the south-east Asian tradition, the backrest recalls a Swedish wall bar, an exercise equipment turned into a load-bearing element. Thanks to this solution, the elements of the Ayana collection can be enjoyed and appreciated at 360 degrees, discovering on each side a new elegant interplay of intersections and proportions.
Two and three seat sofas and the armchair have armrests at different heights. The armchair armrest is higher to guarantee a more ergonomic seat. The sofa armrest, which is lower, can be combined with a cushion that is easy to be fastened and removed, and helps to lie down more comfortably if necessary. The upholstery of this collection stands out for the individual cushions, all covered with waterproof fabrics.
Ayana’s warm minimalism is completed with a chair, a dining table and a low table. The dining chair recalls the stylistic features of the other seats, for a perfect family feeling, with the structure in natural teak wood and two generously padded cushions covered in fabric. The table stands out for its oval top in serpentine, a typical stone of the Alps. The supporting structure in natural teak appears light but is extremely robust, able to resist weather and support the heavy top. Even the coffee table has a round section structure in natural teak, with a top in serpentine. Its broad dimensions allow to create a pleasant convivial atmosphere in outdoor settings.
Ayana is a project with a green soul. The teak used to make the structures is FSC certified (Forest Stewardship Council) and all the materials that make up the various elements of the series, at the end of the product’s life cycle, can be separated and disposed of with respect for the environment.
Questo prodotto appartiene alla collezione:
Base legno massello, Plastica, Poliuretano, Seduta plastica, Fibra sintetica, Tessuto, Legno

Japan
Designing shape is to give form to values that people tacitly share and wish for. Naoto Fukasawa visually captures these values and he draws the exact outline of them. His ability for visualising such unseen outlines for things is not easily worded and described, nonetheless, people are convinced with his ability when they experience his design. Fukasawa’s notions and expressions to approach essential values of things through design travel beyond borders or domains and his thoughts are well respected internationally. His concept for finding hints in subconscious behaviour of people which he named “Without Thought”, is most known and he runs “Without Thought” workshops to share his thoughts. Fukasawa collaborates with world leading companies and brands in such countries as Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Scandinavian countries and Asian countries while consulting Japanese leading companies locally. His area of work is broad and he works with various fields in design beyond categories. Consulting works for Japanese companies are mainly focused on evaluating their cooperate strategies in line with the mean of sociality and how we define quality of life in order to direct the companies towards where society is inevitably heading. Such consulting work extends as far as to visualise design for their products which marks the company’s social responsibilities as well as to visualise their cooperate strategies and Fukasawa‘s work for consulting has led them to many successful results. Biography Fukasawa graduated from Tama Art University in 1980. After working for IDEO's San Francisco and Tokyo offices, he established Naoto Fukasawa Design in 2003 acting as a designer and a consultant for companies, both domestic and overseas. Professor of Department of Integrated Design, Tama Art University. He has been the fifth director of the Japan Folk Crafts Museum since 2012.