Image source: B&B Italia — Nena
© B&B Italia and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research.
Nena
Richard Sapper's 1984 folding armchair, reissued with an aluminium frame and articulated joints
545 × 880 × 775 mm
1984
Official product information
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Go to the official product pageDescription
Overview
Nena is Richard Sapper's folding armchair, designed in 1984 and reissued by B&B Italia in 2026. Its mobile form combines mechanical solidity, elasticity and a compact folded profile.
Construction
The frame uses die-cast and drawn aluminium. Multi-layered wood panels form the back and seat, with shaped polyurethane and polyester-fibre upholstery. Articulated die-cast aluminium joints enable the folding action.
Dimensions
Largest PNE55 drawing values, not labelled with axes: 545 × 775 × 880 mm open and 545 × 135 × 1345 mm folded.
Story
Technical mobility
Sapper developed Nena through experimental research into materials, bringing a tubular aluminium frame into the seat and using articulated joints to let the armchair fold.
Reissue
Originally designed in 1984, Nena returned to production in 2026. The reissue retains the tension between a lightweight back and seat, upholstered cushions and precise mechanical movement that B&B Italia associates with Sapper's work.