Gubi - Basket lounge chair, rattan - Lorky 40

Gubi Basket lounge chair.

The Basket has undoubtedly been well-known designer Joe Colombo's most surprising collection, known for its futuristic style, love of technique and love of natural martial arts.

The Gubi basket is a collection of rattan furniture with a more traditional appearance. But a closer look reveals Colombo's characteristics: organic lines, a distinctly modernist aesthetic and a highly innovative approach to the chosen material.

As Ignazia Favata, former assistant to Colombo and now director of Joe Colombo Studio, explains: "The Basket collection reinvents traditional materials and uses an innovative structure never before used for products so large and light. It's really exciting to see him back in production and to see Colombo's work reach a new audience through the collaboration with the Danish Gubi"

The Basket collection was first produced in the late 1960s by specialist rattan furniture maker Pierantonio Bonacina, who commissioned Colombo to design the basket. And now  it is being relaunched by Gubi after decades of production interruption. Gubi's reissue stays true to Colombo's vision as presented in the original 1967 designs, while optimizing proportions for today's sizing needs.

The name "Basket" pays tribute to the classic hand-weaving technique used in rattan basketry. The collection includes a three-seater sofa, a two-seater sofa and an armchair, all of which have the same construction. Replacing the fiberglass inner shell Colombo originally used, the core of each piece is now formed from a more environmentally friendly steel structure, lending strength and stability to the unique shape. This one is covered in hand-woven rattan, made from interwoven straps and oval pins, a technique that requires an enormous amount of skill and craftsmanship to create.

The design shows a balance between technique and material, a combination of traditional craftsmanship methods and one of the oldest craft materials known to man with the innovative machine precision of carbon steel - a perfect blend of craftsmanship and quality.

The frame features rounded cushions on the seat and back, as well as cylindrical support cushions that add extra softness and an enveloping effect to the sides of the chair. The cushion covers are removable, making them easy to clean.

Joe Colombo's design approach has always been progressive, choosing to focus on sustainable innovation rather than transient trends. His style was generally shaped by experimenting with materials and a strong emphasis on functionality.

With its refined materiality, slightly retro look and inviting comfort, the Gubi edition of the Basket collection brings this vision back to life.

Materials: steel structure, rattan exterior
Dimensions: 89 x 91 x H68 cm.

Materials: steel structure, rattan exterior
Dimensions: 89 x 91 x H68 cm.

About the designer:

In his short but brilliant career, Italian industrial designer Joe Colombo produced a range of innovative designs that made him one of Italy's most influential Italian product designers of the 20th century. Everything Colombo created was intended for "the environment of the future". Thanks to this energy and optimism, Joe Colombo produced an extraordinarily broad body of work in his tragically short career.