Charles Outdoor

Brand: B&B Italia

The Charles Outdoor armchair, part of the homonymous series of outdoor seating, maintains the characteristics that have made the Charles indoor seating system a classic with a decidedly contemporary taste. Indeed, the system features the same slim frame, flexibility and signature design of the inverted “L” shaped feet. With its rigorous, timeless aesthetic, it stands out for its surface created by an open interlacing polypropylene ribbon.

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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.