Charles Large

Brand: B&B Italia

The Charles Large modular sofa is an exceptionally comfortable seat with a fabric or leather cover. Airy and light in shape, it develops the idea of the sofa as a welcoming shelter where you can also lie down. The project reinterprets and enriches the Charles system, a long-standing best seller of B&B Italia, with a version with a wider depth. The project’s striking features remain the essential design of the die-cast aluminium feet in the shape of an inverted “L”, the single seat cushion, and the free back cushions

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Story

Milestones

1966

Founded as C&B Italia

Piero Ambrogio Busnelli founds the company in joint venture with Cesare Cassina under the name C&B Italia, in Novedrate (Como), Italy. The new venture introduces cold-moulded polyurethane foam to the home-furniture sector.

1966

Coronado by Afra & Tobia Scarpa

Afra and Tobia Scarpa's Coronado is launched in the founding year — an iron frame matched with cold-moulded polyurethane foam, signature of the new manufacturing approach.

1969

UP series — an icon of modernity

Gaetano Pesce's UP series is launched: the first armchair born to be shipped flat in a vacuum-packed box. UP5_6 becomes one of the brand's signature pieces.

1972

Novedrate headquarters by Piano + Rogers

B&B Italia's purpose-built headquarters open in Novedrate, designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers on a free-plan, expandable modular structure — a full-scale prototype of ideas the architects later realised at the Centre Pompidou.

1972

Le Bambole by Mario Bellini

Bellini's Le Bambole sofa series is launched — a metal frame wrapped in generous polyurethane padding that eliminates the rigid silhouette. It will go on to win the Compasso d'Oro in 1979.

1973

C&B becomes B&B Italia

Busnelli purchases Cassina out of the joint venture; the company is renamed B&B Italia and inaugurates its new Piano + Rogers headquarters.

1975

Maxalto established

B&B Italia launches Maxalto as its high-end subsidiary line, focused on cabinetry and case goods.

1976

First New York monobrand store

B&B Italia opens its first standalone international flagship in New York.

1978

Contract Division established

B&B Italia formalises its contract arm to serve hospitality, office, and large-scale commercial interiors.

1979

Le Bambole wins Compasso d'Oro; Japan opens

Bellini's 1972 Le Bambole receives the Compasso d'Oro, and B&B Italia opens its first Japanese subsidiary.

1989

First company-level Compasso d'Oro

B&B Italia becomes the first company to receive a Compasso d'Oro awarded directly to a design-manufacturing entity.

2022

Serie UP wins XXVII Compasso d'Oro

Gaetano Pesce's Serie UP is recognised with the XXVII Compasso d'Oro ADI — more than half a century after its 1969 launch.

Trust

Certifications

FSC C142045

FSC® Chain of Custody

B&B Italia's wood components are sourced through the FSC® Chain-of-Custody licence FSC-C142045 — a chain that documents wood from sustainably managed forests through to the finished piece.

UNI EN ISO 9001

Quality management

B&B Italia's manufacturing operations are covered by an ISO 9001 quality-management certification — the international standard for documented quality management systems.