Driade Furniture

Driade is an influential Italian design brand known for furniture and objects that blur the boundaries between everyday function and collectible art. Since 1968, the company has cultivated an eclectic collection of modern chairs, sofas, tables, storage furniture, outdoor furnishings and accessories created by many of the world’s most imaginative designers.

At Scott + Cooner, Driade offers an expressive alternative to conventional modern furniture. Sculptural forms, unexpected references and confident uses of color give the collection a distinctive character, while refined materials and Italian manufacturing make the pieces suitable for sophisticated residential and professional interiors.

An Italian Aesthetic Laboratory Since 1968

Driade was founded in 1968 by Enrico Astori, Antonia Astori and Adelaide Acerbi. From the beginning, the company approached furniture as an evolving cultural project—an “aesthetic laboratory” in which design, architecture, art and communication could influence one another.

Instead of developing a collection around a single recognizable style, Driade embraced creative diversity. The brand invited designers to express individual ideas while building a catalog whose contrasts could coexist within the same environment.

This philosophy established Driade as one of the most experimental voices in Italian design. Its furniture may be minimal or theatrical, restrained or provocative, familiar or surprising. The common thread is an enduring curiosity about how objects can transform the experience of living.

Eclectic Modern Furniture for Individual Interiors

Driade’s collection is based on the idea that a home should reflect the personality of the people who live there. Rather than prescribing a complete matching interior, the brand encourages an expressive mix of forms, periods, cultures and design languages.

A sculptural lounge chair can sit beside an architectural table. An understated dining chair can be paired with a boldly colored accessory. Indoor and outdoor pieces can create visual connections between different areas of a home.

This openness makes Driade furniture especially useful for interiors that feel collected over time. Each piece has its own identity, yet the diversity of the collection allows contrasting objects to form a thoughtful and personal composition.

Driade’s International Designers

Driade’s history has been shaped by collaborations with established masters and emerging creative voices. Designers associated with the brand include Enzo Mari, Philippe Starck, Achille Castiglioni, Alessandro Mendini, Ron Arad, Borek Šípek, Konstantin Grcic, Fabio Novembre, Faye Toogood and Patricia Urquiola.

These collaborations have produced furniture that ranges from disciplined industrial design to highly expressive sculpture. Driade gives each designer space to pursue an individual vision while applying the technical knowledge required to turn experimental concepts into functional products.

The resulting catalog documents several generations of international design. Historic icons remain in production alongside contemporary introductions, allowing classic and current pieces to participate in the same evolving conversation.

The Nemo Armchair by Fabio Novembre

Designed by Fabio Novembre, the Nemo armchair is one of Driade’s most recognizable creations. Its monumental form presents a face inspired by the idealized features of classical sculpture.

From the front, Nemo reads as a dramatic mask. Behind the face, its hollow interior becomes an enveloping chair that partially conceals the person seated within it. This contrast between public image and private space gives the design both its visual impact and its deeper meaning.

Available in multiple colors and finishes, Nemo can be used as functional seating or as a sculptural focal point. Depending on the selected version, it can bring a surreal presence to living rooms, galleries, hospitality spaces and outdoor environments.

Roly Poly by Faye Toogood

Faye Toogood’s Roly Poly collection brings together the qualities of furniture and sculpture. The armchair and sofa are defined by low bowl-shaped seats, rounded silhouettes and substantial cylindrical legs.

The soft geometry gives Roly Poly a reassuring and approachable presence. Its monolithic form feels visually bold, while optional cushions settle into the curved seat to create a more enveloping experience.

Made from rotationally molded polyethylene and offered in a variety of colors, selected Roly Poly configurations can be used indoors or outdoors. The collection works equally well as an individual statement or as a relaxed seating arrangement on a terrace, patio or pool deck.

Costes and the Philippe Starck Collection

The Costes armchair began Driade’s collaboration with Philippe Starck in 1984 and helped establish the designer’s reputation in Italy. Originally created for the celebrated Café Costes in Paris, the chair has become an enduring icon of contemporary design.

Its form is reduced to a few decisive elements: a curved wooden shell, a padded seat and three sharply angled legs. The enveloping back creates a strong architectural outline, while the three-legged structure gives the chair an unexpected visual lightness.

Starck’s extensive work with Driade also includes seating and outdoor designs such as Toy, Pip-e, Bo and Lord Yo. These pieces demonstrate his ability to combine wit, practicality and recognizable form in furniture intended for everyday use.

Award-Winning Italian Design

Innovation has earned Driade significant recognition throughout its history. The Delfina chair, designed by Enzo Mari, received the Compasso d’Oro in 1979. Its slender steel structure and removable fabric cover express the designer’s disciplined approach to construction and material.

A second Compasso d’Oro followed for Enzo Mari’s table design in 2001. In 2008, Ron Arad’s MT3 rocking chair received another Compasso d’Oro for its inventive use of two-color rotational molding.

These awards reflect Driade’s continuing investment in experimentation. Technical processes are not simply used to manufacture a predetermined form; they often become part of the creative idea itself.

Indoor and Outdoor Furniture

Driade’s catalog extends across living, dining and outdoor environments. The indoor collection includes sofas, lounge chairs, dining chairs, tables, desks, bookcases and storage furniture. Outdoor options include chairs, armchairs, tables and accessories designed for terraces, gardens, balconies and hospitality settings.

Several Driade designs move comfortably between interior and exterior spaces. Molded materials, strong silhouettes and vivid colors allow these pieces to establish a consistent design language across the boundary of the home.

Collections such as Roly Poly, Nemo, Pip-e and Lord Yo can bring personality to an outdoor space while supporting the practical requirements of casual dining, conversation and relaxation. Product suitability and available finishes vary by model, making it important to select the correct version for the intended environment.

Art of the Table and Decorative Objects

Driade’s creative vision is not limited to furniture. Its Art of the Table collection includes dinnerware, glassware, cutlery, serving pieces and decorative objects designed to bring imagination and ceremony to everyday rituals.

Collaborations with designers such as Antonia Astori, Philippe Starck and Borek Šípek have produced tableware that explores form, color, transparency and ornament. Individual pieces can function as practical objects while also contributing a sculptural detail to the dining environment.

Vases, trays, centerpieces and small accessories make it possible to introduce Driade’s eclectic character at a more intimate scale. These objects also work naturally alongside the brand’s tables, seating and storage furniture.

More Responsible Material Choices

Driade continues to explore materials and production methods intended to reduce environmental impact. Its Black Is the New Green capsule collection reinterpreted several recognizable designs—including Nemo, Roly Poly, Pip-e and Sissi—using recycled plastic material derived from controlled industrial and post-consumer sources.

This initiative demonstrates how established furniture forms can be reconsidered through new material choices. It also supports Driade’s broader goal of combining expressive design with increasingly responsible production.

Materials and environmental characteristics differ among products, so specifications should be reviewed for the selected design and configuration.

Furniture for Residential and Contract Projects

Driade furniture can be used in private homes, restaurants, hotels, creative workplaces and other professional environments. The collection’s breadth allows designers to choose memorable statement pieces as well as versatile seating and tables for larger installations.

Iconic chairs can give a dining room or restaurant a distinct identity. Sculptural armchairs can define reception areas, lounges or gallery-like residential spaces. Outdoor collections can create energetic terraces and hospitality settings that remain connected to the visual language of the interior.

Because many Driade designs have a strong individual presence, even one carefully selected piece can significantly influence the character of a room.

Discover Driade at Scott + Cooner

Explore Driade at Scott + Cooner and discover iconic Italian chairs, sofas, tables, outdoor furniture and decorative objects created by leading international designers.

Our experienced team can help homeowners, architects and interior designers compare Driade collections, review available colors and finishes, and identify the appropriate versions for indoor or outdoor use. Contact Scott + Cooner or visit one of our showrooms to learn more about Driade furniture for residential, hospitality and professional interiors.