Gibus is one of Europe’s leading Manufacturers of High-end outdoor Design solutions for Both the ho.re.ca. and residential sectors.
Internationally renowned, the company designs and manufactures customised retractable pergolas, bioclimatic pergolas, awnings and zip screens: exclusive systems for enjoying the sun all year round, with comfort, style and innovation. Founded in 1982 by the Bellin and Danieli families, Gibus has constantly evolved to become a brand present in over 50 markets worldwide, with a direct subsidiary in the Netherlands (Gibus NL B.V.) and, since 2022, with the acquisition of LEINER GmbH, a historic German company in the sector.
This growth demonstrates the desire to expand beyond Italy’s borders, bringing the quality and design that set us apart to every corner of the globe. This journey is based on solid and distinctive values: technological innovation, sartorial craftsmanship, design excellence, comfort and sustainability. These elements are intertwined with a unique business model based on the Gibus Atelier network: selected and authorised partners who, in addition to distributing the company’s solutions, benefit from training activities, dedicated services and exclusive tools such as consumer credit and operational leasing.
COMPANY CEO ALESSIO BELLIN TOLD PLATFORM ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF GIBUS.
If you had to describe Gibus in a single concept, which would you choose?
Alessio Bellin | The heart of Gibus – which also translates into what we might call our motto – is the creation of outdoor spaces designed for people and their well-being, exciting environments that enhance quality of life and ensure sustainable well-being. Whether pergolas, awnings or screens, our products must interact harmoniously with the surrounding architectural volumes, transforming them into places where you can enjoy the light and live the outdoors to the full. Expectations for outdoor spaces are constantly growing, both in residential settings and in the Horeca and public sectors. Today, people expect the same level of comfort, functionality and attention to detail that they find indoors. This is why we offer ourselves as a qualified partner in the design of outdoor spaces with the same aesthetic, functional and technological dignity as indoor spaces. A fundamental role is certainly played by the internal management of all stages of production, which allows us to guarantee 100% Made in Italy solutions with standards of excellence. Added to this are constant investments in Research & Development, which have led to over 50 patented technical solutions and 30 registered design models.
How does Gibus present itself to the world of design and designers?
A.B | Gibus offers an extremely wide range of products, including one of the largest collections of bioclimatic pergolas in Europe. This is one of our main strengths in terms of our ability to meet the needs of designers. Each solution is also custom-made and offers endless possibilities for personalisation in terms of design, size and colours. This is not only to meet the practical needs of users, but also to express the maximum aesthetic value, in harmony with the architectural and natural context in which it is placed. In this sense, we present ourselves as the ideal partner for designers, offering on the one hand the technological and innovative advantages of an industrial organization, and on the other hand a tailor-made approach that allows us to follow each project as a unique piece, studied in detail. Our main assets lie in cutting-edge mechanical technology, now enhanced by electronic components that automate our solutions; in the textile culture we have developed over more than forty years of experience – since my father founded the company – and in our attention to design. As I like to say, our goal is a quiet but distinctive design: our products are not furnishing elements, but real structures that are part of the architecture of the project. They should not impose themselves, but integrate with the architecture and nature, becoming complementary and representing real added value also from an aesthetic point of view. Our commitment to design is confirmed by our collaborations with prestigious design studios and the international awards won by many of our products, including the ADI Design Index, the Red Dot Design Award and the iF Design Award.
What is Gibus’s stance on sustainability and what concrete measures does it implement?
A.B | For us, sustainability is first and foremost a cultural approach. Providing shade or, conversely, restoring light is in itself a sustainable gesture, if designed with awareness. Take, for example, awnings or other types of shading: in summer, they keep both outdoor areas and the interiors of buildings cooler, reducing energy consumption for cooling; in winter, on the other hand, allowing sunlight and heat to penetrate helps to make rooms more comfortable, reducing the need for heating or artificial lighting. This awareness is the starting point for every sustainable project we undertake. It is also the basis for our Sustainability Project, a cultural and educational initiative through which we are committed to promoting virtuous practices throughout the distribution chain. At the production level, we have implemented a number of concrete actions: from the installation of a photovoltaic system that covers about 60% of our energy needs, to the recycling of aluminium and fabrics by specialised companies, to the adoption of packaging made of cardboard, wood and recyclable materials. Steel, for example, is a highly sustainable choice because it can be remelted and reintroduced into the production cycle an infinite number of times. The situation is different for outdoor fabrics, which require synthetic fibres derived from petroleum to ensure
strength and durability, with an inevitable environmental impact. This is precisely why we have invested in the development of two new textile fibres made from recycled materials: one composed of 75% recycled polyester, the other obtained from the residues of our plant’s manufacturing processes. Finally, our commitment is also reflected in product innovation. With the energy-pergola line, launched with the E-Varía and E-Twist models, we have introduced a truly new category to the market: the bioclimatic photovoltaic pergola, which combines design and renewable energy production.
