ABOUT
HISTORY
Established in 1966 as the result of the entrepreneurial vision of Piero Ambrogio Busnelli, the Group has built its success on the ability to represent contemporary culture through design and to anticipate trends, constantly seeking to respond to changes in taste and living needs.
The Sixties
1966
Piero Ambrogio Busnelli founds C&B (a joint venture between Cassina and Busnelli).
A modern industrial and technological approach shakes the world of upholstered items.
1966
The Coronado project is one of the foundation projects from the research of Afra and Tobia Scarpa. It emerged from the proposal to match an iron frame with the revolutionary technology of cold moulded polyurethane foam, which B&B Italia introduced to the furnishing sector.
1966
UP SERIES: the first armchair born to travel «in a vacuum» box is created by Gaetano Pesce. Icon of modernity, the up5_6 armchair is metaphor of the female figure that is endowed with a comfortable womb and is yet a prisoner.
The Seventies
1973
Piero Ambrogio Busnelli purchases Cassina’s shares and changes the name of the company to B&B Italia with new HQ building designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers.
1970-1972
Between 1970 and 1972 le Bambole by Mario Bellini became into being. The series turned out to be a revolutionary product with a transgressive adv campaign by Oliviero Toscani. Le Bambole won the “Compasso d’Oro” in 1979, the most important award in the field of Italian industrial design.
1975
Maxalto is founded
1976
Opening of the first monobrand store in New York
1978
B&B Italia Contract Division is founded
1979
First presence in Asian markets with the opening of B&B Italia Japan
The Eighties
1984
The company received its second Compasso d’Oro for the Sisamo wardrobe designed by Studio Kairos, thus confirming B&B Italia as a leader in innovation also in the field of bedroom furniture.
1989
After the 3rd Compasso d’Oro awarded by Antonio Citterio’s Sity sofa, the 4th was the first one ever to be granted to a company, “for its role in the development of the Italian Design”
The Nineties
1993
Antonio Citterio becomes the sole designer and art director of Maxalto
1997
The sofa system Charles is launched. Charles will become the B&B Italia’s best and long seller product, as well as a reference model in the world of design worldwide.
The New Millennium
2001
International distribution network is requalified with the opening of direct owned Stores and single brand stores with local Partners
2007
Debut of the B&B Italia Outdoor collection
The 2010s
2010
Foaming Dept is renewed with a massive technological investment
2016
Acquisition of Arclinea
2018
Acquisition of Azucena.
2018
Since December 2018, B&B Italia is part of Flos B&B Italia Group, a leading global high-end design group operating a number of legacy brands in the world of luxury furnishings and lighting, with a European cultural heritage. Driven by a purpose of “We design for a beautiful life”, the Group designs for the planet, people and culture. The Group includes B&B Italia, Flos, Louis Poulsen, Arclinea, Maxalto, Azucena, FENDI Casa, Audo and Lumens. Flos B&B Italia Group is jointly owned by the global investment firms Investindustrial and Carlyle.
The 2020s
2020
Iconic Camaleonda designed in 1970 by Mario Bellini is back
