Kettal x Patricia Urquiola partner to launch the Plumon collection

Kettal, a specialised outdoor furniture designer and manufacturer with a mission to create timeless furniture with personality, has had an international calling to design and innovation, since its inception in 1966. The brand has since been known for the scientific and technological research at the forefront of their product development. The high-quality product design, offered by them today, is a direct result of their spirit of functionality, innovation, and aesthetics. Mr. Manuel Alorda founded Kettal in Barcelona, with the goal of bringing delight to outdoor living; today, the brand is helmed by the second generation of the Alorda family. At the beginning of the 21^st century, Kettal acquired the brands, Hugonet y Triconfort, which came together to form the Kettal Group. Since then, Kettal has worked with a wide range of international designers, who have collectively contributed to well-rounded, innovative, and unique collections.

Kettal’s appreciation for simplicity and beauty of everyday life influenced their 'Base kitchen' collection. The modular kitchen structure offers infinite solutions with an aluminium supporting frame that can be teamed with a number of stoneware modules, in various combinations, while maintaining its authentic linear design. This design features clean, smooth surfaces, with no corners, for easy cleaning and maintenance. It is available in two types of stoneware and two Iroko wood finishes for the doors. The modular design aluminium structure comes in black only. Along with basic kitchen functions, it has a gas barbecue and includes several burners with support for a wok, also incorporating a bar.

“I am interested in the new poetics that come from new technologies…we are going to be more and more artisan digital producers,” shares Patricia Urquiola, on her conviction in developing ties between handcraft and industrial research, merging with Kettal's approach towards technology being at the forefront of their goods. Their collaboration on the new outdoor family collection 'Plumon' was designed based on the concept of clothing, dressing, and undressing furniture. Each product developed specifically for this project, owing to Kettal’s strategy, adopting a tailoring approach, Urquiola designs the new family with reference to the characteristic Brazilian design spirit, which lives in abundant, roomy, comfortable furnishings, somehow evocative of distant landscapes and cultures.

Urquiola creates a light framework for 'Plumon,' on which a fitted and cushioned dress is 'moored' and wrapped. This ribbed padding is distinguished by stitching and serves as a decorative figure—contributing to the ergonomics of the product design. The aesthetics are guided by the fit. The clothing is put on the stiff teak framework and hugs it with a few easy motions. Extremely simple to use, which is a huge bonus for an outdoor collection. The cushioned dress that generously wraps the armrests and the exterior of the backrest adds to the aesthetic appeal and comfort.

Urquiola, the product designer for this project, starts each project by building an empathic connection with the users who will engage with the design which is reflected in the aesthetic appeal of the 'Plumon' collection, that stands in harmony with its comfort, adding a definitive narrative to any outdoor space satiating Kettal’s philosophy for their outdoor furniture.