Newcomers to Cassina’s outdoor furniture family

Cassina’s modernist pedigree is enticingly apparent in the latest additions to its outdoor furniture range. Modernism’s fascination with nature, which spawned organic, if stylised forms is particularly evident in one of these – Charlotte Perriand’s Mexique Outdoor dining table, made of materials and finishes suited to outdoor use. Perriand began designing her series of ‘en forme libre’ or freeform tables in 1938, later adapting them in 1952 for use in rooms at Maison du Mexique, the student halls of residence at the Cité Universitaire de Paris. The Outdoor dining table offers a sophisticated iteration of the design with its new material finishes and potential colour options. 

The Mexique Outdoor bar table is more playful: bevelled edges soften its triangular top, emphasising the table’s organic quality. Available in seven colours – including joyous turquoise, evocative of swimming pools or the ocean, limpid green or Chinese lacquer red – and featuring black tapered legs, the piece is faithful to its 1950s roots. Accompanying bar stools have gently biomorphic seats that highlight their mid-century origins.

Hailing from the 1950s, like Perriand’s Mexique pieces, is Gio Ponti’s Leggera chair, Cassina’s iconically lightweight, yet strong seat. Created in partnership with Cesare Cassina, who co-founded the company in 1927, and Cassina’s joinery experts, the seat is still produced today in Cassina's carpentry workshop and now available in an updated outdoor version for the present day. It is well complemented by Patrick Jouin’s outdoor Lebeau table, a new version of his eponymous 2013 wood design. Manufactured in sturdy aluminium to brave the elements, its cage-like base flares outwards as it rises and meets the table top to fuse strong architectural lines and curvilinear grace.  

Cassina marries flair for comfort and modernity with its outdoor furniture. Exemplifying this is another design – Rodolfo Dordoni’s Dine Out table. Also channelling a mid-century aesthetic, this fleshes out the Dordoni-designed Dine Out family, which also includes a comfortable armchair for outdoor use. Deep, cushioned seats, sloping backrests and curvilinear arms wrapped in cord add up to an ergonomic collection conducive to laid-back yet chic alfresco dining.

© Architonic

Head to the Architonic Magazine for more insights on the latest products, trends and practices in architecture and design.