It all starts with an image. A seated figure, seen from behind, poised in silent balance before the
sea. It’s “Young male nudesSeated beside the sea”, painted by Hippolyte Flandrin in 1836. In those still curves and taut lines, Manuel Barbieri (co-founder of MM Company) found inspiration: to translate that same formal tension into an object. That gesture became Ariva, a chair that is both posture and architecture.
The story of this chair has two key moments. The first is its creation. Designed in 2012 as a one-of-a-kind piece, Ariva is the result of a deep reflection on the body and how it inhabits space. It’s not a conventional seat, but a carefully balanced construction of interlocking elements: seven natural beechwood components – two backrests, four legs, and a seat – come together in a sculptural, precise, and unmistakable form, thanks to both design and meticulous joinery.
The second moment came in 2018 with its industrialization. During a visit to our studio, Emanuel Battocchio, Managing Director of Sitia, came across the Ariva prototype and decided to bring it into the brand’s collection. From there, an industrial development process transformed the piece into a serial product, without sacrificing any of its original design rigor. Ariva was officially unveiled at the Salone del Mobile that same year, retaining the strength of its original concept. Its all-wood construction, free from any metal parts, also makes it entirely sustainable.
Over the years, Ariva has been “dressed” in various finishes, including bold lacquers introduced during Milan Design Week 2025: chocolate, powder blue, mustard. With its distinctive style, Ariva seamlessly fits into both domestic and contract spaces, carrying a poetic yet functional essence. It stands as a small cultural manifesto, proof that design can be born from a mood, a gesture, or even a painting.
