Visionnaire: The Babylon Rack Project and Caprice

Italian luxury brand Visionnaire recently unveiled two collections — The Babylon Rack Project and Caprice — at the Super Salone in Milan. Both collections offer exquisite pieces of furniture that include sofas, chaise lounges, sunbeds, dining tables, consoles, cabinets, lighting and carpets. The collection truly reflects Visionnare’s sophisticated design aesthetics, skilled craftsmanship and excellent hues of contemporary and sustainable material for these outstanding products.

The Babylon Rack project — entirely designed by Alessandro La Spada, as the evolution of the iconic Babylon sofa — has been conceived as a work of modular mini-architecture, with many functional features for studying, working and relaxing. Associated with different uses across the span of the day, the modular sofa is also perfect as a work zone, thanks to the accessorised compartments obtained by recessing the padded back to create shelves and object caddies, with built-in LED lighting. Babylon Rack is covered in Pray, a special new leather with antibacterial properties, effective up to 99 per cent. The sofa also comes with an innovative wireless system (inserted in the armrests) that permits recharging of lamps and smartphones.

The collection also introduces The Egoiste chaise longue which is inspired by a chair, which can be used for reading or work. The low Building table reveals a perspective game of full and empty portions; while on one side the perspective displays five tops at different heights, from above the top it seems like a single linear piece. The new Barbican family, composed of a low cabinet and a console, stands out for a top on two levels, made with different materials: the upper level in wood is separated from the lower level in Port Laurent marble by means of a metal profile. The new Polaris suspension lamp, is an example of craftsmanship and modular design that give rise to a unique yet reproducible product. The lamp with a circular form is made through the combination of concave parts in aluminium, completed by a diffuser in onyx with an organic form. Redding, is an outdoor cot defined by a linear silhouette and a contemporary image. The structure, with light, clean lines, is in polished mahogany, enhanced by steel feet.

Designed by Mariana Radovic and Marco Bonelli of M2 Atelier, Caprice responds to the needs of many places and moments of life, with the same versatility in both indoor and outdoor settings, where the common denominator is the same as well: comfort. The collection comprises Ilario is a sofa that offers modular freedom and rounded forms. The many configurations can form right or obtuse angles, thanks to the orientation of the various upholstered modules, and have been envisioned for an informal and personalised, comfortable and dynamic living area. By adding new modules, it is possible to create different layouts, for free personalisation of indoor or outdoor spaces.

Basket, a seating programme is composed of a sofa in two sizes and an armchair which takes its conceptual cue from the idea of a handmade basket, reflecting the sartorial quality of the world of fashion. The enveloping design is developed on an aluminium structure, through the elegant back made with segments of iroko wood held together to create a finely crafted necklace effect. Architectural, spacious and comfortable, the Wing sofa is a perfect place to enjoy sunny days in an outdoor setting. The design features curved lines and ample shapes, suggesting a gullwing form. Wing comes with a console for objects and drinks in iroko wood on an aluminum structure. It is complemented by the Wing Dining Table which is a result of the encounter of geometric forms and curved lines, again with a gull-wing form. The design of the table, coordinated with the sofa of the same name, features a metal part that rises from the floor to reach the top, graphically dividing the surface into four portions.

Softness and comfort are the characteristics of the inviting Siesta daybed, with a large adjustable built- in parasol. Curved lines and rounded borders give rise to a versatile piece of furniture, of ample size, to enjoy at the moment of the day. Foil, a very light chaise longue, is a creation of perfect ergonomic design, with a slender silhouette. Foil can be utilised in a wide range of settings: thanks to its contemporary image that combines beauty and anatomical precision, the seat enters into a dialogue with the body, adapting to any type of use, without any need to adjust the back. The design is completed by a headrest. Vienna is an elegant low table for outdoor use, based on the combination of three materials: marble, wood and Vienna straw for the screening. A characteristic of the Vienna table is the option of utilizing it with other units to create personalized compositions. Apple, with its essential lines, is a sophisticated contemporary floor lamp. The marble base — containing the switch — supports a slender metal structure that terminates in a circular diffuser.

Curated by: Deepa Nair 
Photographs: Visionnaire