European Elegance — Mobilia Debuts an Exclusive Kettal Space at its New Richmond Showroom

Kettal’s legacy as a distinguished outdoor furniture maker has long been emblazoned in the global design firmament. At Mobilia’s new Richmond showroom, discerning Australians have a chance to shop the brand’s latest collections in an atmosphere reminiscent of the outdoors.

Since its inception in 1964, Spanish outdoor furniture brand, Kettal, has managed to stay at the forefront of innovative and sustainable furniture design. The company was established by Manuel Alorda, who, after a trip to Germany, noticed the lack of outdoor furniture options in Spain. In an effort to address the gap in the market, he began manufacturing aluminium outdoor furniture and invited his son Alex to join the family business at the end of the 1990s. Ever since its inception, the brand has grown from strength to strength, having acquired a trifecta of brands – Hugonet, Triconfort and Evolutif – in the early 2000s. In spite of remaining on the vanguard of the outdoor furniture movement, the company – under the creative direction of Antonio Navarro – has demonstrated an abiding commitment to sustainability. Each of its collections pays homage to the environment, employing eco-friendly paints and wood sourced from managed forests.

Remarkably, for a company of this scale and signature, every product is made to order. The company boasts a bevy of past and present collaborations with renowned designers such as Patricia Urquiola, Jasper Morrison, Vincent Van Duysen, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Mario Bellini, Doshi Levien and countless others. Equally significant is the company’s focus on craftsmanship. A fitting case in point is its Bitta chair, designed by Rodolfo Dordini and fastidiously crafted from high-grade aluminium and braided polyester. The chair is an emblem of breezy summer days, its dense braiding mirroring the ropes used to moor boats – ‘bitta’ means ‘mooring’ in Italian. The piece is lightweight but resilient and built to last.

At Salone del Mobile 2022, Kettal unveiled designs by Patricia Urquiola, Michael Anastassiades, Rodolfo Dordoni and Miguel Milá. The collections included a ceiling fan, a series of tables made using an innovative 3D stoneware printing technique and a table that was originally designed in the mid-60s as a wedding altar. Aside from its primary furniture range, Kettal has clinched the spotlight for its Pavilion Office series, a bouquet of prefabricated structures constructed of aluminium, glass, wood and fabric that can be configured to create instant zones both indoors and outdoors. The versatile concept is used in offices and co-working spaces around the world – adopting the system to create easily removable and enclosed workspaces. The system also allows for additions such as shelving, television units, whiteboards and bulletin boards, as well as other customisable options. Most notably, Kettal also used the pavilion system to create a true-to-form design of the famous glass penthouse built by modernist architect Richard Neutra at his California home.

Kettal’s legacy as a distinguished outdoor furniture maker has long been emblazoned in the global design firmament.

For design connoisseurs in Australia, Kettal is now closer than ever. Mobilia’s new showroom in Richmond, Victoria, plays host to a dedicated Kettal arena – characterised by an ivory-toned hand-painted brickwork and the brand’s characteristic colours and textures. Designed in a collaboration between GOLDEN and Kettal’s in-house design team, the space showcases Kettal’s latest collections, including designs by Vincent Van Duysen, Patricia Urquiola, Mario Bellini, Michael Anastassiades and Naoto Fukasawa. The space is reminiscent of carefree outdoor living – so much so, that patrons might just be tempted to linger on forever.

Mobilia’s new showroom in Richmond, Victoria, plays host to a dedicated Kettal arena – characterised by an ivory-toned hand-painted brickwork and the brand’s characteristic colours and textures.