I love the notion of outdoor space as another room of the house, of spending time outside without the need to compromise on shelter and comfort. Indeed the trend to ever more original, sophisticated (and comfortable) furnishings and design for living en plein air was everywhere to be seen in Milan at design week this year, with established manufacturers (think Vittorio Bonacina and Gervasoni) sharing top billing with progressives like Emu and Gandiablasco. So with the southern summer on the doorstep, it’s time to air a few masterful mediterranean examples of how it’s done.