The Italian job in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - There is a secret to true luxurious living. And it’s a secret that has been around in the Philippines for 15 years now.

B&B Italia, a strong leader in contemporary furnishings, has, for decades, stood for the blending of cutting-edge technology and magical creativity to produce furniture that is both timeless and reflective of the era in which it was crafted. Founded in 1966, B&B Italia has constantly relied on solid research and development, which has allowed it to be highly innovative.

The continuous advancement of B&B Italia is seen not only in the structures of their furniture, but also in the materials used. Fabrics and leathers are first evaluated by experts in a trial room before they are even considered for use in furniture making. B&B Italia also pays much attention to their ecological impact. They make sure that the wood they use is only from trees that are at the end of their lifecycle and come only from controlled renewable forests.

B&B Italia’s trademark of using the latest and finest technology and materials has won them four Golden Compasses, the highest honor in design. But their most significant distinction was the Golden Compass for “constant work towards integration with the aim of combining the values of scientific and technological research with those of a functional and expressive product.” Such is the outstanding level of craftsmanship B&B Italia delivers.

B&B Italia celebrates 15 years in the Philippines. Abitare Internazionale, the sole distributor of B&B Italia, is the venue for a photo exhibit called “The Italian Job.” The display features Filipino personalities and 15 of the most iconic B&B Italia pieces. The images were shot by renowned photographer Frank Hoefsmit with creative direction by Anton San Diego, editor in chief of Tatler Philippines.

Each photograph showcases the iconic pieces of B&B Italia in a way that makes their artistic and technological genius unmistakable. Featured are classics like the Diesis sofa by Antonio Citterio and Paolo Nava, and the Up 5&6 designed by Gaetano Pesce. Both Citterio and Pesce are architects by training and have made great impacts on interior design. Their work has been among the hallmarks of B&B Italia through the decades.

The exhibit opened with cocktails to gather people to appreciate the workmanship of B&B Italia and the impact it has made on Philippine interior design for the past 15 years thanks largely to the pioneering efforts of Abitare Internazionale. Abitare Internazionale is also the distributor of Maxalto, a collection under B&B Italia that was first introduced in 1975.

For close to 50 years, B&B Italia has been a leader in furniture design and technology in the world and for 15 years has been the benchmark for luxury furniture in the Philippines. The “Italian Job” photo exhibit captures much of the essence of what B&B Italia stands for — elegance, innovation, superior technology, artistic vision. There is truly much to celebrate about and the 15th anniversary exhibit delivers a graceful summary of the many good things B&B Italia has brought us.