With the support of the Le Corbusier Foundation, which gave access to their archives to analyze available materials and designs, Cassina  studied chairs and tables of the famous Capitol Complex, an extraordinary architectural work created in the Indian city of Chandigarh in 1951, and produced some models inspired by Pierre Jeanneret .

Capitol Complex Collection by Cassina

During the design of the Chandigarh project, the capital complex was imagined as the political and administrative core of the new city, a celebration of the independence of a nation that opens up to modernity. In fact the differing influences resulted in a meeting point between modern european ideals and the traditional indian spirit, which can be seen in Cassina’s collection.

Starting from the compositional scheme of the furnishings characterized by the "V" type of supports, Cassina develops four pieces: two chairs, an armchair and a table.

Capitol Complex chair by Cassina

The chair  is one of the most recognisable in Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex, found throughout the offices of the Secretariat. The independent pieces, including the side bars in an inverted “V” supporting the armrests, are all made of solid wood. The woven backrest and seat, stretched across a wooden frame, are elements common in the area, much like the use of local woods like teak. Similar to the better-known office chair, this armless chair also uses the “V” approach to sidebars, in this case shorter as they do not extend to the arms. Importance, instead, is given to the seating/backrest sequence in Viennese woven cane, connected with an immense geometric section supported by two wooden profiles, and coplanar legs, that together, are simple and yet, powerful at the same time. Cassina’s reissue offers the classic version in teak, and two versions in natural and stained black oak.

Capitol Complex armchair by Cassina

The only exposed wooden parts are the armchair  rests, connecting crossbars, and the external joints between the arms and the backrest. The armrests’ padding almost completely envelops them, creating the outline of a rounded, geometric shape, that along with the distinct seat and back cushioning, offer an immediate sense of comfort without abandoning their elegance and simplicity. Cassina’s reissue offers the classic version in teak, and two versions in natural and stained black oak.

Capitol Complex table by Cassina

This table  is amongst the furnishing used for the large gatherings of the Legislative Assembly. It almost evokes the serious activities taking place, with two large, solid wood, graphic elements shaped like “cornes entrecroisées”. Cassina’s reissue offers the classic version with a teak top and frame, and two versions in natural and black stained oak, with the option of a glass top in several sizes.

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