Camaleonda
the sofa system designed in 1970 by Mario Bellini
Camaleonda makes its comeback 50 years later, speaking a contemporary language, between structural solutions and sustainable choices.
The history: 50 years that have not gone by. Presented to the public in 1970, Camaleonda has passed through 5 decades of design history as a true icon. Designed by Mario Bellini, this modular sofa has defined the aesthetics of an entire era of interior design, thanks to its great success both in terms of the public and critics. An object that is finally back in production after a careful design process that involved the close collaboration between the B&B Italia’s Research & Development Centre and Mario Bellini.
“Camaleonda continues to live on thanks to an identity that has become an evergreen iconic vintage.”
With Camaleonda we find ourselves in the presence of a sofa intended as an architectural element, capable of transforming the landscape of the interior space that it inhabits. A landscape that is neither immobile nor permanent, as its chameleon-like nature involves change and transformation. Camaleonda continues to live on thanks to an identity that has become an evergreen iconic vintage, current for each generation precisely because of its timeless qualities.
The present: a contemporary reissue
In its reissue, Camaleonda preserves the elements that have made it a contemporary classic. By mutual agreement, Mario Bellini and B&B Italia have decided to keep the 90x90 cm seat module, together with the backrest and the armrest, faithful to the original project, whose original cutting pattern was used for the new edition. Thanks to the tie-rods and the rings, in fact, the modules can be unhooked and recombined at will, allowing the sofa to adapt to an evolving taste and the dynamic needs of those using it. The fundamental characteristic of Camaleonda is its unlimited modularity, a geometric pattern that allows each element to become a sort of enormous pixel through which to define your home environment. By hooking and unhooking seats, backrests and armrests, you can enjoy the luxury of changing your mind as many times as you desire, moving and redesigning the space. A concept which is dear to Mario Bellini.
“Of all the objects I have designed, Camaleonda is perhaps the best in terms of its sense of freedom. There are infinite number of possible configurations.”
The future: sustainability and circularity
The re-edition of the Camaleonda does not look back to the past, but on the contrary it aims to rewrite an indisputable classic in a contemporary perspective. The “sandwich” structure of Camaleonda is made up of recycled or recyclable materials that can be easily disassembled. The padding is protected by a removable cover made of 100% recycled Polyester Fiber, a synthetic fabric that is entirely made of recycled PET, the same material used to manufacture plastic water bottles.
