Renzo Mongiardino et Gae Aulenti pour Bonacina

In the 1970s, the Bonacina 1889 company undertook a series of collaborations with Gae Aulenti and Renzo Mongiardino, working from models preserved in the firm’s Archivio storico. Their approach consisted in adapting existing pieces to contemporary uses while preserving the rattan bending and weaving techniques characteristic of the house. 

Gae Aulenti (1927–2012) reworked several archival seats, including the “1925/1” model and its outdoor version “1925/1 Out”, which she redesigned in 1979 by adjusting their proportions and structure. She also developed the “Serra/F” series, in which the “Serra F Sofa” translates a characteristic Bonacina rattan structure into a sofa form. 

 At the same time, Renzo Mongiardino (1916–1998) worked closely with Mario Bonacina to adapt other historical models to the needs of specific projects. Their collaboration led in particular to the creation of the “Brando Bicolor” model (1975). 

These pieces appear in several notable interiors designed by Mongiardino, including the fashion designer Valentino Garavani’s dining room, Paola Zanussi’s living room, and that of Princess Irene Galitzine in Rome (L. Verchère, Renzo Mongiardino, Décors et Fantasmagorie, Paris, 2013, pp. 156–157, 163, 176–177).