Sofa to System: HAY Refreshes the Amanta Sofa by Mario Bellini

ByMyProperty Life 05/09/2025

Architect and designer Mario Bellini was a titan within the industry, his enduring influence in Italian furniture and design unquantifiable. Receiving the Golden Compass Award eight times, 25 of his works are in the permanent design collection of the MoMA, which dedicated a personal retrospective to him in 1987. The Amanta Sofa, now produced by HAY about 60 years later, marks the first Italian reissue for the brand – along with a materiality refresh, the colors are just right for 2025. “From the beginning, Mette and I insisted that HAY should be an international brand, not just Danish,” says HAY cofounder Rolf Hay. “The Italian design of this period has had a huge impact on the way we look at design today.” With one-seater, two-seater, three-seater, and four-seater options, this modular lounger, originally designed in 1966, stays mod, in more ways than one.

A modern living room with a purple armchair, a light mauve two-seater sofa, a wooden coffee table, a geometric rug, and a lamp on a built-in wooden shelf by large windows.

Inspired by the structural logic of the Barcelona Chair by Mies van der Rohe, the modular system is designed around the floating cushions that fit neatly into the provided shell, intuitive and thoughtful. The low-slung silhouette of the Amanta collection was revolutionary for its time, relaxed pitch and supportive, yet plushy seating marking a newer, more laid-back approach to furniture. Modular units spoke to a flexibility in arrangement, the first of its kind to do so.

Two modern pink lounge chairs sit in a bright living room with large windows, a wooden side table, a lamp, books, and an outdoor chair visible on the patio.

Material interaction is interesting here, a channel running down the back of the sofa, giving the Amanta visual interest wherever it happens to be seen. A plush back invites us to stay, and the impermanence of position allows us to go – a respectful and endearing take on seating, one that contemporary designers would do well to note.

Two pink upholstered armchairs with wooden bases sit side by side near large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a garden.

A modern living room with a blue cushioned lounge chair, a small side table with a glass, a black coffee table, and large windows showing greenery outside.

The color palette speaks to the timelessness of the collection, contrasting accents with upholstery, creating a lovely conversation. Bold, technical, and beautiful, Italian design of this era was highly humanist, a yearning for not necessarily the finer things in life, but the good, lasting ones. A lake blue, emerald green, and blush mauve suggest optimism, ushering in a more expansive notion of what sofas could be. The shell cradles the upholstered portion, holding its vertices partially – the softness extends outward, supported by its metal counterparts, both stronger together than apart.

Modern living room with blue sofa and chair, black coffee table, small side table, pendant lamp, and large windows showing a green outdoor landscape.

Modern living space with a table, chairs, sofa, and floor lamp overlooking a pool and greenery through large glass windows.

Modern outdoor seating area with light gray sofas, a white coffee table, and a floor lamp, set on a patio overlooking a pool and large glass windows.

Lastly, this refresh doesn’t solely exist on the surface – HAY dove deep into the materiality of the Amanta Sofa, discarding the metal for 99% post-consumer plastic. Even better, the foam is 94% biomass balance foam, ensuring a plushy yet supportive seat for years to come.

Modern living room with large glass windows, minimalist furniture including gray sofas, a black coffee table, black chairs, a rug, and views of greenery and mountains outside.

Modern minimalist living room with large windows, light curtains, three cushioned chairs, a small wooden table, and a scenic forest view outside.

Modern outdoor seating area with a beige sofa, green armchair, small wooden coffee table, white side table, and large windows overlooking trees.

Modern lounge area with green leather chairs, a sofa, a wooden coffee table with books, a floor lamp, and large windows overlooking water.

A green three-seater sofa on a patio with a floor lamp, overlooking a scenic view of trees and mountains through a large open window.

Modern outdoor patio with a green sofa, two black chairs, a small black table, and a white floor lamp under a concrete overhang, overlooking trees and distant mountains.

A beige armchair sits next to a geometric black and white lamp on a side table, in front of a tan paneled wall near large windows overlooking greenery.

Modern beige armchair with plush cushions, black spherical feet, and a sleek, slightly angular back, positioned indoors near a window with garden view.

Two green armchairs are positioned by a large window with a view of greenery; a small wooden table with a pink book and a glass of water sits between them.

A variety of modular sofas in different colors and fabrics are arranged on a white background, showcasing multiple configurations and styles.

Several modern, upholstered sofas and armchairs in various colors are arranged on a plain white background.

Three rows of modern sofas—green in front, white in the middle, and blue in the back—are arranged on a white background.

Five upholstered chairs in different colors are arranged in a row, viewed from the back, on a plain white background.

To learn more about the Amanta Sofa by Mario Bellini for HAY, please visit hay.com.

Photography courtesy of HAY.

Growing up in NYC has given Aria a unique perspective into art + design, constantly striving for new projects to get immersed in. An avid baker, crocheter, and pasta maker, handwork and personal touch is central to what she loves about the built environment. Outside of the city, she enjoys hiking, biking, and learning about space.