Polyurethane sculpture BABY-LONIA

A gigantic construction toy of soft polyuréthane, designed at the beginning of Seventies, has become an unusual modular décor. Baby-lonia came to life from the genius of Studio 65, a group of radical designers led by Franco Audrito, following the innovative ideas of pédagogue Francesco De Bartolomeis. Because of its educational content it was used by some of the best Italian schools during the Seventies, since it is light and flexible and so suitable for kids. In the Eighties Gufram decided to make it into a true interior design item, perfect to enrich the catalogue of a brand already involved in the production of pop and radical objects. The polyuréthane foam Baby-lonia is composed of is coated with Guflac, the spécial paint patented by Gufram that makes polyuréthane look like leather while increasing its résistance and maintaining its softness. Baby-lonia is to ail intents and purposes a domestic sculpture that can be broken up into chairs and tables, but that still remains a toy ... for kids as well as adults. As the story goes, it is the only toy that beiongs to the collection of the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. ABSTRACT It is a gigantic construction toy of soft polyuréthane, designed at the beginning of Seventies, that because of its educational content was used by some of the best Italian schools. In the Eighties Gufram decided to make it into a true interior design item, perfect to enrich the catalogue of a brand already involved in the production of pop and radical objects. Baby-lonia is to ail intents and purposes a domestic sculpture that can be broken up into chairs and tables, but that still remains a toy ... for kids as well as adults.