The Area collection brings together modular seating and tables to create adaptable outdoor environments © Foster + Partners
Curated by ArchiRev Editorial | Published September 2nd, 2026 | Source: Foster + Partners
Project Details
Designer: Foster + Partners Industrial Design
Manufacturer: Kettal
Typologies: Outdoor Furniture, Product Design, Industrial Design
Themes: Furniture Design, Outdoor Living, Modular Design, Material Innovation, Sustainable Design
Status: Completed
With the emergence of outdoor spaces as extensions of workspaces, hospitality locations, and residential areas, furniture needs to deliver the same degree of flexibility and comfort as it does indoors. Area is a modular outdoor furniture collection designed by Foster + Partners Industrial Design for Kettal, which aims to address the current need for a collection of flexible and comfortable furniture with excellent craftsmanship. Designed to fit a range of different settings, the collection offers comfortable spaces for social gatherings, work sessions, and restful moments in a simple and precise architectural language.
The collection includes various furniture pieces that complement each other, such as sofas, lounge chairs, tables, and modular seating furniture, that can be combined to form different spaces. In this way, it allows adapting the furniture to the specific needs of different outdoor settings, from residential terraces to workspaces and hotels.
Slim structural frames and generous cushions create a balance between visual lightness and comfort © Foster + Partners
“Area” has an understated architectural language where durability and elegance get the same amount of importance. The thin aluminium structure gives strength to the design without compromising its lightness, which makes it easy for the furniture pieces to seamlessly blend into any architectural style. It is a timeless design with a minimalist aesthetic that does not require any excessive details.
Comfort is given through cushioning that adds volume to the sleek structural design. It has been designed to be comfortable for the user, giving it a cozy feel along with elegance.
Modular components allow the collection to adapt seamlessly to different outdoor settings © Foster + Partners
Flexibility is the key principle in the creation of area furniture. The seating units can be united, expanded, or reorganized depending on the surrounding environment and mode of use. Due to this modularity, the furniture collection has the potential to change together with the evolving functional demands while retaining its coherence.
The tables and accessories complementing the furniture help enhance the collection’s potential for enabling socialization, communication, eating, or relaxing. Instead of setting up a static space, the furniture enables users to organize it according to their needs.
Carefully selected materials ensure durability while maintaining a refined architectural aesthetic © Foster + Partners
Material choices show the importance of the lasting quality of the pieces and how well they perform outdoors. All the materials that have been used have weather-resistant qualities as well as being comfortable for touch while still being strong enough to withstand varying environments. Each material that has been used in the pieces has been carefully selected for this combination.
This simple colour range helps the pieces become even more versatile in terms of their ability to match with various surroundings, whether modern or traditional.
The collection encourages seamless transitions between architecture, landscape, and outdoor living © Foster + Partners
Area enhances the connection between furniture, architecture, and landscape through its capacity to create settings where indoor life is continued outdoors. From its placement next to a pool, in a garden courtyard, or on a balcony in an office, the collection enables a smooth flow from indoor to outdoor settings. It is flexible enough to accommodate multiple social and practical functions within an outdoor setting without compromising aesthetics.
The minimalistic nature of the furniture pieces makes it possible for the architecture, vegetation, and natural environment to blend with the furniture collection as a coherent whole.
Area demonstrates how modular design, craftsmanship, and durability redefine contemporary outdoor furniture © Foster + Partners
Area captures the philosophy of Foster + Partners Industrial Design that outdoor furniture should be able to integrate adaptability, durability, and beauty into one design solution. This is done by virtue of Area’s modular design, light structures made from high-quality materials, and well-balanced proportions.
The design of the area, which was created in cooperation with Kettal, proves that through the use of industrial design in outdoor furniture, we can achieve quality designs that can suit any setting, including hospitality venues, office buildings, homes, and even public spaces.
