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Inspired by the forms of nature, the Bat and Beetle Dining
Chairs by GamFratesi are among GUBI’s most celebrated fur-
niture designs. These specially developed outdoor editions are
tailor-made for al fresco living, breaking down the barriers be-
tween indoors and outdoors and taking the iconic designs into
a new dimension.
“The Beetle and Bat Chairs are two of the most complex proj-
ects we have ever undertaken. Their free, organic yet precise
lines are what make them unique,” says designer Stine Gam.
“Both were inspired by nature, so we are delighted that they
can also be used outdoors and thus return to their natural hab-
itat,” adds Enrico Fratesi.
The Beetle and Bat outdoor editions imbue their elegant lines
with an informality and lightness appropriate to the outdoor
setting. Both find design inspiration in the natural world. The
Beetle Dining Chair is designed both to be robust and to gen-
tly flex in response to micro-movements, echoing the com-
plex movements a beetle can make while keeping its body
parts rigid and defined. The organic shape and gentle curves
of the Bat Dining Chair are a three-dimensional reflection
of the webbed wings of the animal that inspired it, with the
front, arm and backrest forming a single continuous line when
viewed from above.
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Although the chairs are still perfectly suitable for indoor use,
GamFratesi has modified the designs to ensure they are also
optimized for exterior settings. Pushing the boundaries of ther-
moplastic technology, the chairs’ curved outer shells benefit
from the addition of a UV additive. This strengthens the poly-
propylene, preventing the two colors – New Beige and Alabas-
ter White – from fading due to weather damage, thus making
two already versatile chairs even more dynamic. A matt-satin
finish gives both chairs an engaging tactility, while their light
weight enables both to be easily moved, further blurring the
frontiers between internal and external spaces.
Like the indoor editions, each piece in the Beetle and Bat Out-
door Collection is designed for disassembly and fully recycla-
ble. The optional seat cushion is upholstered in outdoor-appro-
priate fabric and is equally suited to use on the Beetle and the
Bat, without any rigid fittings or fixings. Taking inspiration from
the branching form of a tree, the conical legs of both chairs
seamlessly integrate with the structure under the seat. In this
way, the chairs are functionally and aesthetically adapted for
outdoor spaces, while preserving the qualities and values of
their indoor counterparts.
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