Promotion: Italian company Fast has embraced its values of local production and sustainability to create long-lasting outdoor furniture.
Blending technology and traditional craftsmanship, Fast takes cues from its surroundings to create innovative outdoor pieces that aim to “enhance the enjoyment of natural landscapes”.
The company was established by Stefano Levrangi in Valle Sabbia, Italy, in 1995, to create lighter and more sustainable outdoor furniture from aluminium.
This focus on aluminium and metalwork stems from the material’s tactility and recyclability, which is emphasised throughout the company’s product range and commitment to sustainability.
Local engagement is also reinforced through the company’s use of local raw materials and suppliers.
“The territory has given us so much, now we try to give to the territory,” company CEO Marco Levrangi said.
Since its opening, Fast’s developments include the creation of the pivotal Forest collection in 2007 in collaboration with design studio Robby Cantarutti & Partners and a 2017 partnership with designer Alberto Lievore, which lead to an expansion of the company’s catalogue.
In 2022, the company’s 1,700-square-metre FastLab showroom, which serves as a creative space for showcasing the company’s collections, was expanded.
Last year, the company appointed architect David Lopez Quincoces and designer Francesco Meda to lead its creative direction. The creative duo’s involvement with Fast came shortly after the brand had opened its flagship store in Milan.
Tasked with bringing inspiration to Fast’s philosophy into a “modern, poetic language”, Quincoces and Meda aim to create versatile products that blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living.
Among the collections created under the duo’s creative direction are the Naca, Roè and Samba collections.
The Naca collection comprises a series of tables distinguished by curved legs that pose as both the “structural and visual centrepiece” of the products.
The legs are made through the extrusion of aluminium and can be combined with a range of table tops for customisation.
The Roè collection comprises a range of dining armchairs, coffee tables and sofas defined by aluminium frames and padded seating.
The chairs are formed from a continuous curved line in three variations: a padded seat and backrest; a padded seat with a cylindrical cushion backrest; or a minimalist, unpadded option that leaves its aluminium frame exposed.
Featured throughout the collection is a die-cast joint into which the extruded aluminium profiles are fitted – allowing for the creation of various product variations and sizes.
The Samba collection encompasses storage units composed of aluminium frames topped with extruded sheets characterised by narrow grooves.
Both horizontal and vertical versions of the unit are available for use in a range of outdoor and indoor settings.
Among Fast’s newest products is the Ria Soft collection, designed by Lievore, that encompasses an armchair, daybed and sofas made in painted aluminium.
The Forest collection, designed by Robby Cantarutti & Partners, has been the company’s best-selling range since 2007 and now includes a chair, an armchair, a rocking chair and stools in various versions.
“A fundamental aspect of the Forest design is research, which consists in observing and copying nature to such an extent as to establish a close bond with it, using the same language in its design,” Robby Cantarutti said.
“The success of this collection is based on the simple message it conveys: love for nature, thanks to which the harmonious relationships of nature have been understood and translated into an artificial element, namely Forest seats.”
To find out more about the company and its products visit Fast’s website here.
Partnership content
This article was written by Dezeen for Fast as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
