Serie Up 2000 armchair is designed by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia with structure padded in cold-molded flexible polyurethane foam (Bayfit®), a fabric cover, and a jute base finished with a PVC seal, nylon cord, and a fabric-covered button.
First conceived in 1969 through the intuition of Gaetano Pesce in collaboration with the then C&B (now B&B Italia), the Serie Up immediately stood out as one of the most striking symbols of modern design. With its organic, boldly sculptural shapes and stretch fabric upholstery, it represented a refined intersection between visual art and industrial innovation—a poetic application of injection-molded polyurethane foam that would become a hallmark of the company’s identity.
At the heart of the collection is the iconic UP5_6, often referred to as Big Mama, La Donna, or Blow Up—a powerful feminist statement. Its generous silhouette embraces the sitter, evoking the votive statuettes of Paleolithic fertility goddesses. Beside it, a spherical ottoman is attached to the chair by a cord, symbolically conjuring the image of a woman with a “ball and chain”—a poignant and still-relevant metaphor for oppression. As Pesce himself explained:
“Woman has always been, despite herself, a prisoner... I gave this armchair the shape of a woman with a ball chained to her foot, the traditional image of a prisoner.”
Originally designed as a vacuum-packed prototype—compressible by up to 90% and able to expand slowly into its final shape like a sponge—the armchair was reissued in 2000 in an updated version free of freon gas, featuring innovative Bayfit® foam and stretch jersey upholstery, which are more durable and environmentally conscious.
Through the decades, the UP5_6 has retained its allure, reinventing itself with every milestone. In 2019, to mark its 50th anniversary, it was released in a special edition with beige and petrol green striped fabric, paying homage to the original color palette. The piece was awarded the prestigious ADI Compasso d’Oro Career Award in 2022.
Perfect for contemporary interiors, gallery spaces, or homes with strong personality, this armchair is not merely a furnishing item—it is a cultural icon, transforming any space into an emotional experience.
Also available in a Junior version, faithful to the original design but scaled down for children aged three and up, it delivers the same symbolic impact and visual presence in a smaller form.
Starting price (VAT included): € 5.215,50