Project Overview

Our Vista outdoor collection encourages us to take a break, relax, and soak in the serenity of nature, setting aside our gadgets for a while. It serves as a sincere reminder of the deep, fulfilling happiness that a connection with nature can bring.

Organisation

FrancoCrea

Team

We are a team of local designers and artisans led by Franco Crea who are passionate about preserving true craftsmanship and authentic design. All of our products are designed and made locally on Australian soil in Melbourne and Adelaide, and each piece is name-plated and verified with a certificate of authenticity. Our approach to furniture design is marked by precision and intention and has been since 2013.

At the heart of each FrancoCrea design is a commitment to timeless, heirloom-quality design. We believe an object becomes an heirloom not solely through its construction, but through the stories that give it special meaning as it passes down through generations. We are inspired by this process of meaning-making and the many ways we, as human beings, feel connected to objects, to others, and to ourselves.

Designer Franco Crea's minimalist aesthetic and precision manifest from his training in interior architecture and furniture design, and he joins traditional techniques with sustainably sourced materials.

Project Brief

While developing the Vista outdoor collection, we were guided by two clear design philosophies.

Our initial aim was to design a piece that stands as a beautiful view in its own right, something you’d love to admire from afar. Outdoor pieces frequently blend into our outdoor scenery, viewed from our indoor spaces.

Our next objective was to make sure it offered a comfortable, welcoming spot for you to unwind and enjoy the natural beauty surrounding you.

Essentially, the Vista collection is both a breathtaking view and a spot to enjoy an inspiring view of nature.

Project Innovation/Need

Enhancing every outdoor experience with a hint of opulence, the plush, inviting armrests of Vista are designed with comfort in mind, providing a padded haven for your arms. As you settle in, your arms experience a soft textural quality to lean into with ease. You’ll notice the thoughtful design of the armrests intentionally doesn’t span the full length of the arm. It stops just short enough so you have a sturdy spot to conveniently place your favourite beverage or rest your mobile device while you take a moment to look up and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Crafted with recycled aluminium, Vista’s frame strikes the perfect balance – hefty enough to resist the wind, yet light enough for effortless repositioning. Sporting a highly robust exterior grade next-gen textured powder coat means peace of mind to relax and enjoy downtime in the comfort of Vista. It offers resilience to scratches and scuffs and is engineered to withstand both mild and harsh Australian outdoor conditions.

Vista’s frame is available in colours that deliberately pair with many well-loved colour bond colours used in Australian homes today such as colours Surfmist, Shale Grey, Monument, white and black. We’ve also included next-gen colours called Granite and Stone that harmoniously work with many natural pavers and outdoor tiles, along with perennial Green and Core Ten colours for perfect flexibility.

Design Challenge

As designers, we are passionate about discovering and utilising cutting-edge materials in our work. Our Vista design perfectly embodies this devotion, showcasing the innovative use of new textured powder coats for their superior practicality and tactile allure. Moreover, we have aimed to spotlight the significant strides made in outdoor fabric technologies recently. It’s fascinating to see how these fabrics have evolved, now blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor use.

We offer Vista in outdoor materials that rival indoor ones in beauty and elegance. Among these is an outdoor velvet that is nothing short of stunning. We also have a cosy outdoor boucle, a luxurious outdoor Italian weave and faux outdoor leather options. Each of these options comes with an extensive colour palette, enabling clients to find a perfect match.

Vista's sizes are versatile, fitting seamlessly into all sorts of spaces. Whether you have a petite patio or a sprawling outdoor entertaining area, Vista caters for both. The armchair is perfect for compact outdoor spaces, offering a cozy spot to relax in the open air. The outdoor sofa, on the other hand, is ideal for larger spaces, providing ample seating for friends and family during gatherings.

Sustainability

Vista offers genuine year-round outdoor convenience.

Its upholstery is crafted with cutting-edge, outdoor-grade self-reticulating foams. These foams possess an open-cell density construction, allowing water to flow through them quickly and drain easily. This ensures the cushions and seat pads dry rapidly while preserving their form, comfort, and longevity.

For those of us who prefer, we have deliberately designed the upholstered seat and back to be flexible, offering the option to remove them during the cooler months for extra peace of mind if desired.

All of these elements are synonymous with our studio's design philosophy of buying once and buying well as an antidote to landfill furniture.