While the word “Ondarreta” evokes images of San Sebastian’s fine sand beach, it is also the namesake of one of the most active furniture firms from Gipuzkoa. Since 1975, the company has been designing and making functional, versatile furniture that is contemporary in design and made out of innovative and sustainable materials. The materials used are environmentally friendly, and boost the creation of jobs and improve the local economy.
Ondarreta is also a family business spanning three generations. It transmits trust, functionality, design and professionalism. The firm has been placing its bet on emerging designers who have a certain prestige. This has been the case from the outset, and it contributes to creating a company that has a feeling for good design. And this year, 2019, has seen the launch of a new phase, with the updating of the brand’s image in order to bolster the company's identity as a firm set on creating highly designed pieces.
The following product families of seats and tables stand out among Ondarreta’s most iconic collections: BOB and BOB XL, designed by Nadia Arratibel; BAI, created by Ander Lizaso; LANA, designed by Yonoh Studio; and ALO chairs, created by Gabriel Teixidó. In addition to these products, we have the SILU collection, devised by Ben van Berkel/UNStudio, and the DRY shelving, bench and table/shelf, created by the company’s design team. Some of the highlights from the new furniture offers for 2019 include: the HARI collection of chairs, armchairs and stools, designed by JMFerrero from estudi{H}ac; the SUPRA chair, created by Note Design Studio; and OLA folding screens, which owe their design to Silvia Ceñal.
We can find the company’s design pieces in projects all over the world. In the USA, we came across BOB chairs at the LinkedIn offices in Chicago. Fender, the famous guitar company, has BOB XL chairs and BOB stools at its offices in Los Angeles. In France, we find the LANA wooden armchair at Brasserie Camille, and DON chairs and stools at the Maison Vauban restaurant. Similarly, Le Bon Funk restaurant in Singapore is also using OTO stools, and the Arvo Part Centre in Estonia has the AIA pouffe. These are just some examples of places where pieces from the Spanish firm can be found.
Ondarreta has been exporting to several countries worldwide for over 15 years. The company currently exports more than 45% of its turnover, and it has distributors on all continents. Its main export markets include France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium and Switzerland. Ondarreta’s aim is to continue its international growth while maintaining its distinguishing feature of designing and producing new products based on the raw materials found in its surroundings.