Cassina

Cassina: Italian Design Culture – Timeless Furniture Icons since 1927

Cassina stands for Italian furniture design, craftsmanship and innovation. The long-established company's portfolio combines timeless, modern furniture design classics with contemporary designs arising from collaborations with renowned designers. Cassina was founded in 1927 by Cesare and Umberto Cassina in the Italian city of Meda under the name "Amadeo Cassina," later shortened to Cassina, and before the Second World War primarily produced wooden tables, later adding sofas and armchairs to the portfolio, all produced entirely by hand.

Spacious Cassina interior with the 7 Fauteuil tournant swivel chair by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand

► The Cassina Portfolio and Collaborations with Designers
► Cassina I Maestri Collection: Cassina Design Classics
► Cassina I Contemporanei Collection: Contemporary Cassina Designs
► Cassina - An Introduction
► Cassina consultation at smow

Cassina Utrecht Armchair

The Cassina Portfolio and Collaborations with Designers

Upholstered furniture is an important part of the Cassina portfolio: from elegant individual pieces like the Cassina Utrecht Sofa by Gerrit Rietveld to expansive sofa landscapes like the Miloe by Piero Lissoni, which can be individually configured, Cassina sofas and armchairs represent excellent design and masterful craftsmanship. In addition, there are Cassina chairs, Cassina tables, Cassina storage furniture, Cassina beds, Cassina home accessories, Cassina lamps, and a range of Cassina outdoor furniture.

Cassina Utrecht lounge chair

During the 1950s production at Cassina switched to industrial methods and the company began commissioning designers to create larger series. For example, Gio Ponti furnished the first class of the legendary cruise ship Andrea Doria with Cassina designs, thus helping the company establish a floating showroom from 1952 until its demise in 1956. Ponti's Superleggera chair, now considered one of the absolute icons of Italian design, was promoted by Cassina with the story that it was thrown from the second-story window of the company headquarters, landed unharmed. And even bounced back.

The early, close collaboration with designers and architects such as Gio Ponti and Vico Magistretti, combined with manual carpentry and technologically advanced machinery, is the basis of Cassina's continued success to this day. Cassina continues this tradition today through collaborations with internationally renowned designers and architects such as Zaha Hadid, Patricia Urquiola or Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. Today Cassina's portfolio is divided into two major collections: the Cassina design classics (Cassina I Maestri) and newer and contemporary Cassina furniture designs (Cassina I Contemporanei).

The multifaceted Cassina portfolio: In the background the LC12 glass table by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret and the upholstered chair Cab 413 with leather cover by Mario Bellini, in the foreground the LC14 stool/side table by Le Corbusier

Cassina I Maestri Collection: Cassina Design Classics

Since 1965 the Cassina Maestri line has included key works and reissues by important architects and designers in design history including works by Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret and Le Corbusier, Gerrit Rietveld, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and many others.

The LC Furniture Collection by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand

In the late 1920s the avant-gardists Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand significantly shaped modernist furniture design with their signature LC1, LC2 and LC3 sofas and armchairs, the LC4 chaise longue, the LC6 and LC10 tables, amongst other designs. The trio countered the ornamental aesthetics of Art Deco with functionalist reduction and minimalist forms, thus initiating a radical change in the design philosophy of the 20th century. Cassina planned the realisation of the LC furniture in collaboration with Le Corbusier and began production in the 1960s. Since 1978 Cassina has been the sole licensed manufacturer of LC furniture and today, the furniture in the LC collection shapes the image of Cassina as a company rich in tradition with innovative ideas.

Cassina Lounger LC4

Prestigious furniture design in the luxury segment: Who is Cassina LC furniture suitable for?

Thanks to its iconic design, timeless, radical aesthetics, and high-quality materials such as leather and steel, the Cassina LC furniture is still an international success in the luxury segment today.

The Cassina LC2 and LC3 sofas, for example, exude an elegant, prestigious quality, either alone or in combination with the Cassina LC2 and LC3 armchairs, and are therefore often used in upscale executive offices, institutions, and lobbies. The LC2 armchairs, for example, are the ideal furniture for a meeting in an executive office.

The chaise longue LC4, one of LC's most famous furniture designs, is a symbol of modern man with its machine-like appearance, making it particularly effective in large rooms with plenty of light and views. It is used primarily in private settings, and its sculptural appearance embodies status and aesthetic expertise.

Zig Zag Chair and Red and Blue Armchair

They are best known from art and design history: Gerrit Rietveld's "Zig Zag Chair" from 1934 and his "Red and Blue" armchair from 1918. Both models are exhibited in the collections of MoMA and the Vitra Design Museum, but smow brings them directly into your living room. Cassina holds the exclusive manufacturing licenses for the Zig Zag Chair and the Red and Blue Armchair and still produces the seating today based on the original designs.

Cassina I Contemporanei Collection: Contemporary Cassina Designs

Cassina Contemporanei, in turn, brings together works by designers who, from the 1950s onwards, have transformed the legacy of classical modernism into a contemporary context, as well as contemporary furniture designs and accessories. With designers such as Philippe Starck, Jaime Hayon, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, Zaha Hadid, Meret Oppenheim and Patricia Urquiola, who has been Art Director at Cassina since 2015, the furniture company brings together a who's who of the international design scene.

Perfect interplay of old and new: Cassina 3 Fauteuil Grand Confort and Moov Sofa

The Maralunga sofa by Vico Magistretti embodies a successful combination of design, entrepreneurial intuition and Italian craftsmanship. An international bestseller, it is characterised by timeless aesthetics and functionality. The Met sofa by Pierro Lissoni represents another design icon of the 1990s and with its formal, pure and geometric aesthetic, it remarkably combines understated comfort, versatility and impeccable elegance. This designer sofa is not only a timeless piece of furniture, but also a successful marriage of form and function. The sofa's modern, clean lines create a timeless balance that is both contemporary and inviting, fitting effortlessly into a wide variety of living spaces. The Met sofa is an expression of elegance and remains a striking example of the sophisticated design language of the 1990s.

Cassina - An Introduction

For a company with such a historic, significant, and precious heritage, it is a great challenge to preserve it while not losing sight of the present. To quote Cassina CEO Gianluca Armento: "Looking back to move forward." This very combination of expertise, tradition, experimentation, and innovative new ideas has already been embodied in designs such as Tobia Scarpa's Ciprea armchair from 1968 or Philippe Starck's multifunctional Lazy Working Sofa from the 1990s.

Where and how does Cassina produce?

Craftsmanship at the company headquarters in Meda: For over 90 years, Cassina's high-quality design classics have been produced directly at the company headquarters in Meda. The workshop, originally founded by brothers Cesare and Umberto Cassina as "Cassina Amadeo — Fabbrica Tavolini" (Factory for Small Tables), was expanded and enhanced with new machinery during the 1930s, and today, traditional craftsmanship and modern technology still combine in the production of Cassina furniture. Although the natural materials wood and leather, in particular, are characterized by a high degree of individuality, thorough material testing guarantees a consistent standard that ensures the use of only the highest quality materials. All individual parts are mass-produced using state-of-the-art technology and each is assembled and tested by hand by a dedicated employee.

Patricia Urquiola - Creative Director at Cassina

Patricia Urquiola, as Creative Director at Cassina, brings an avant-garde and innovative approach to her work. Her perfectionism is particularly evident in the design of classic, modular seating systems. As part of Cassina Perspectives, the new collection was presented, focusing on sustainability and well-being. New solutions for living and dining rooms were added to the company's holistic approach. With the I Maestri line, Cassina is presenting reissues by the Italian architect and designer Ico Parisi from the first half of the 20th century for the first time. Cassina Perspectives at Night, a completely new collection for the bedroom, featuring furniture designs by Patricia Urquiola and Rodolfo Dordoni, was also introduced.

Patricia Urquiola is not only Cassina's art director, but also a Cassina designer. Pictured here is her Dudet chair for Cassina

Sustainability at Cassina

As an internationally renowned furniture manufacturer Cassina is consistently committed to the principle of sustainability. Through an integrated sustainability concept the company actively promotes the responsible use of resources and people in various areas. Cassina not only strives to implement sustainability standards for its own company, but also to bring about change and new opportunities throughout the furniture industry. Cassina has always relied on environmentally friendly materials and production processes to minimise its ecological footprint. Durable, timeless designs of high quality make a decisive contribution to reducing consumerism and the throwaway culture. Cassina also actively invests in innovative technologies to promote energy efficiency. Cassina's commitment to greater sustainability is documented in a publicly accessible annual sustainability report. This report includes information on energy savings, certifications, and the proportion of women in the company, which currently stands at 49 percent. Cassina also discloses its efforts in terms of sustainable logistics and waste and water management.

Cassina consultation at smow

Are you looking for prestigious furniture that embodies the highest quality and reliability? Cassina furniture is the perfect choice for upscale offices, lobbies and lounges in law firms, real estate companies, medical practices, or art institutions, or for furnishing spacious private living spaces.

Cassina at smow Konstanz

We sell Cassina furniture classics in the smow online shop. Do you need material samples of a specific piece of Cassina furniture or would you like to have your interior planned individually? Planning & consultation at smow? In our smow stores, you can experience many other Cassina collections in person and try them out. Our experienced design and interior design professionals will be happy to advise you on your furniture selection and will also provide expert support in implementing your interior design concept. Visit us and be inspired. We look forward to being of assistance!