Icons that endure: Maralunga, Soriana and 2 Fauteuil Grand Confort, petit modèle, from Cassina

Here we have just enough time to tell three of Cassina’s extraordinary chapters in design history: perhaps Cassina’s most iconic and coveted pieces, certainly not confined to the past, yet ever-evolving to the beat of their founding spirit.

It was back in 1964 that Cassina acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to produce the first four models by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand. Whilst embracing authenticity, Cassina has championed their progressive, high-quality evolutions. The 2 Fauteuil Grand Confort, petit modèle, durable and 3 Fauteuil Grand Confort, grand modèle, durable (launched 2020) represent this, with new materials including recycled PET blown wadding.

Opening the page at 1969 sees the launch of the Soriana model by Afra and Tobia Scarpa with its abundant padded curves and giant metal brace (winning it a Compasso d’Oro the following year). Its 2021 reboot brought new colours and materials – including the substitution of the original, polyurethane structure with a series of bags filled with microspheres made from BioFoam®, the first patented foam to have a biological base made from biopolymers produced from natural resources.

Fast forward to 1973; Milanese architect Vico Magistretti designs the Maralunga (awarded a Compasso d’Oro in 1979), an intuitively comfortable sofa with a flexible concealed backrest innovated with a mechanism similar to a humble bike chain. It’s since been subject to numerous modernisations in close collaboration with the Vico Magistretti Foundation and, this year in parallel with the architect’s entrance into the Cassina iMaestri Collection, was presented with a 50th anniversary edition in red nubuck leather. Thanks to this engaged dialogue, Cassina’s icons continue to live on strong.

© Architonic

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