B&B Italia Alanda '18 Coffee Table: Refining a Structural Icon from the 1980s in 2018 Language
A Table That Places 'Structure' on Glass
Alanda '18 is a coffee table where the frame captures attention before the tabletop. While the horizontal plane finished in glass handles the function, the lower section demonstrates the 'way of supporting' space, much like a model structure. B&B Italia positions this table as an iconic model of the 1980s, and has returned it to the production line in the 2018 version while maintaining its original character. It is a type of furniture where form proposes its role first, sitting in the center of the living room.
B&B Italia's Grammar: Combining Experimentation and Industrial Production
Since the 1960s, B&B Italia has strongly established its identity as 'a company that researches and develops design and implements it industrially.' In the 1970s, through the headquarters building designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, it demonstrated that a production company could simultaneously become a platform for design culture. Against this background, 'complements' with strong formal qualities like Alanda have taken on the role of even transforming the impression of the main collection. For reference, the history of B&B Italia and mention of the headquarters building can be found in B&B Italia 1970s History, and the circumstances in which Piano and Rogers designed the B&B Italia administrative building are also confirmed in the Renzo Piano entry.
From 1980's 'Alanda' to 2018's 'Alanda '18'
The starting point of this table is Alanda, created by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia in the early 1980s. The key is the division of labor between 'a light tabletop' and 'a structurally ostentatious lower section': the metal frame with repeating inverted pyramids performs both support and form. B&B Italia describes the 2018 'Alanda '18' as a revisitation of "an iconic piece that opened the 1980s," and clearly establishes the context as a homage to Piva. The official product description can be found on the B&B Italia Alanda '18 page, and the brand's context of 'Italian Modern' is further complemented in the Architectural Digest article.
The User Experience Created by Form: A Frame Where 'Support' Is Revealed
The lower section of Alanda '18 features a grid drawn in rods forming four inverted pyramids, creating an impression of expanding the center of gravity outward. This effect becomes even more direct when the tabletop is transparent glass. The surface where objects are placed virtually disappears, and the support structure that makes the table 'table-like' comes to the forefront. As a result, even when placed in the center in front of a sofa, the rhythm of the outline remains rather than a sense of heaviness, and the two-size development option is read as a choice to adjust the same structure by 'area' to match the spatial scale. More detailed product information and specifications can be found at the product purchase page.
Installation Case: The Larger Size Functions as a 'Central Furniture'
The buyer completed installation on December 1, 2025, with a transparent glass top option in a 120×120×H27 configuration. Summarizing the review, it was noted as an advantage that the lines of the frame appear three-dimensional from the floor, while the glass tabletop keeps the view relatively light. In particular, the square plan is described as the type that organizes the 'center' in front of the sofa, making it suitable for aligning the axes of rugs and sofas.
What Spaces Does It Suit Well
Alanda '18 is closer to an object that structurally anchors the center of a space rather than functional keywords like 'storage' or 'soft texture.' The glass tabletop reduces visual volume, making it easy to highlight the frame's form even in smaller living rooms. Conversely, if surrounding furniture already has many lines and grids, it may appear overcrowded, so it's best to keep one of the sofa or lighting as a neat element focused on planes for better balance. In spaces like lobbies or lounges where there is 'waiting' time, the table's structure actually functions as a visual focal point.
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