Milan 2021 The Cassina Perspective

For 2021, Cassina has focused on 'The home, our refuge, a place of self-expression devoted to our daily private lives and at the same time, a place from where we connect to the outside world, whether real or virtual, to work, socialise and inspire.’

This is achieved with homelike settings placed within the Cassina Milan showroom combining new designs with recent reissues of past masterpieces as well as additions to collections.  

A new design by Patricia Urquiola is always a major furniture event. As Cassina’s design director, Patricia Urquiola not only oversees the aesthetic direction of the company but also continues the amazing trajectory of her career in furniture and industrial design.

The Sengu table is a further extension to the Sengu sofa collection and Sengu low table. Drawing on Japanese tradition as inspiration, the combination of two different materials overlapping recalls the ritual of the perennial reconstruction and partial rebuilding of shrines – taking place over many years. The emphasis is on the dialogue between the differing materials, texture and colours.

The Dudet chair, designed as part of the 2021 Cassina collection is an excellent pairing with the Sengu table as well as being a perfect occasional chair to add interest to a small space.

The Dudet, with its two curved tubes and seat in a continuous line, is inspired by 60s and 70’s style. Typical of furniture of that era, its appearance belies its superior level of comfort. The wide seat and well placed backrest are formed from a steel structure covered with thick, spongy padding made with a patented foam composed of polymers from natural sources.  The Dudet covers are removable and available in leather or fabric.

This distinctive design, winner of the Compasso D’oro for 1969, was the result of experimentation with cold shaped polyurethane foam – a new furniture material in the late 60’s. Fortuitously the low,  comfortable, soft edged lounge style furniture that this material enabled, fitted in perfectly with the relaxed mode of living that had become late 60s style. Tobia Scarpa, son of eminent Italian architect Carlo Scarpa, created an armchair and sofa that was wholly formed by the material used – the external metal holds the sofa together so effectively that no internal support is required, resulting in unparalleled comfort.

After many years as a much sought after vintage piece, the Soriana has been reissued by Cassina, the original manufacturer, to fit today’s lifestyle as stylishly as it did in the 60’s.

The concept behind this table is the cross shaped joint – Vico Magistretti was quoted as saying that the most seamless way to join four tubes is the cross shaped joint used in gas plants. This merging of industrial functionality and austere minimal beauty is revived in the re edition of the Edison table from 1985 which continues a succession of collaborations with Cassina since the 1960’s.