Exteta reissues poolside furniture by Gae Aulenti

Gae Aulenti’s 'Locus Solus', a collection of unmistakably 1960s outdoors furniture, has been reproduced by Italian company Exteta and launched at Salone del Mobile

(Image credit: press)

By Rosa Bertoli

last updated 8 October 2022

in Features

The most famous poolside collection is back: Gae Aulenti’s 'Locus Solus', a series of unmistakably 1960s outdoors furniture has been reproduced by Italian company Exteta, launched at Salone del Mobile earlier this month. Bringing back the collection for the first time since its original launch, Exteta here celebrates the late Italian designer and her penchant for shape and colour.

Originally designed for Centro Studi Poltronova in 1964, the collection featured loungers, tables and chairs in bold shades and matching prints, and was part of the set for the 1969 movie La Piscine, starring Alain Delon, Romy Schneider and Jane Birkin.

Movie star status aside, the collection was one of Aulenti’s most playful design moments, echoing the architectural work she contributed to the city of Milan with her colourful Piazza Cadorna structures.

Composed of symmetric furniture pieces equipped with printed cushions, the collection echoes traditional curved wooden furniture shapes, as well as one of the designer’s own pieces, a rocking chair she created for Poltronova a few years earlier.

An important moment for Italian design, the collection signaled a shift towards the outdoors with a collection that merged functional aspects with a pop attitude. Returning as a faithful reproduction, painstakingly recreated in collaboration with Archivio Aulenti, 'Locus Solus' proves the contemporary significance of the designer’s legacy.

Table and chairs — An important moment for Italian design, the original collection signalled a shift towards the outdoors with a collection that merged functional aspects with pop attitude

Furniture View — A complete poolside set, 'Locus Solus' includes a sun lounger, a table and chairs set, a love seat, a pouf and a lamp. Pictured: the collection's love seat

The collection is constructed in tubular steel varnished in bold hues. Pictured: the collection's lamp

Furniture piece view — The sinuous and symmetric furniture pieces are equipped with printed cushions

Yellow chair view — This was one of Aulenti’s most playful design moments, echoing the architectural work she contributed to the city of Milan with her colourful Piazza Cadorna structures

sketch of project concepts — A sketch from Aulenti's project concepts

Aulenti's collection for Poltronova poster — An original poster advertising Aulenti's collection for Poltronova

Women sitting on a curved chair — The collection echoes traditional curved wooden furniture shapes and one of the designer’s own pieces, a rocking chair she created for Poltronova a few years earlier

INFORMATION

For more information, visit Exteta’s website

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.