The Cassina I Maestri Collection - Part I

"Creation is diversity. Diversity is life." -  Charlotte Perriand

The 20th century Masters of Architecture have found in Cassina  the best place to promote and enhance the work of the great avant-garde that led to the new way of living the home. Inside “I Maestri” collection, Cassina has collected the new editions of the interior design items by last century architects and designers, having a strong impact on the collective memory. The research and development is also supported by foundations and by the heirs of the Masters, ensuring the high quality of this hard work.

The collection was born in 1964 with the introduction of  re-editions of Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand classic designs. Ernesto Nathan Rogers presented the collection as: "[...] "The quality of these works lies in the fact that they have condensed into their forms an interpretation of time that goes beyond narrative; the possibility of experiencing them today is a chance to understand that synthetic perfection to which architecture should always aspire."

Filippo Alison, who supervised the collection from 1972 to 2014, gave the Collection its current structure as a result of a careful philological work and impressive historical reconstruction, which prevents these classics from falling into obscurity.

Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand, Lloyd Wright, Marco Zanuso, and many others: all together under the aegis of Cassina, the only company authorized to reproduce the designs of the Masters. Each piece in the Maestri Collection is authenticated with a progressive production number, the signature of the designer and the Cassina I Maestri logo.

In this first part we present three great masters of the twentieth century: Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand, and Lloyd Wright.

The collaboration between Le Corbusier  and Charlotte Perriand began in 1927; this fruitful 10 years partnership has led to the design of many innovative furnitures, thanks to a successful experimentation in the field of “l’Equipement d'intérieur de l'habitation”.

Le Corbusier - Perriand - Jeanneret have designed the definitive chaise longue: the LC4, made famous by the photo that shows Charlotte Perriand relaxing on one of the first models of the "relaxing machine". The chaise longue has the self-supporting mat attached to the frame, and represents the perfect balance between shape and comfort.

Charlotte Perriand (we have talked about her in this post) was a full member of that avant-garde that brought a big change in interior design; positively marked by the collaboration with Le Corbusier, she has continued to enhance her creativity through projects for modern living, able to respond to human needs. She also designed the Tabouret Méribel, made of solid wood: it’s a stylized version of the traditional milking stool, made for her chalet (Meribel, France), and clearly inspired by the typical furnishings, materials and shapes of Alps interiors.

Frank Lloyd Wright, considered one of the fathers of the Modern Movement in architecture and the greatest American architect of all time (1991), was also an appreciated interior designer. The armchair 606 Barrel, characterized by a curved back in cherrywood, is an iconic design piece. Designed by Wright in 1937 for Herbert Johnson’s house (who had he hired Wright to design a new administration building for his company in Racine, Wisconsin), it is suitable for both classic and modern houses, and is available in different finishes to meet the aesthetic needs of all inhabitants of the house.

We’ll be waiting for you soon with the second part of "Cassina I Maestri": in the next post we’ll present Franco Albini, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, and Marco Zanuso!