‘To be truly contemporary, one must always have a hand in the past and a hand in the future.’
These words were used by late Italian designer Vico Magistretti in an interview with The New York Times in 1989 to describe his work. His ethos and incredible pieces remain truly contemporary today.
Pictured here is his Maralunga sofa, a piece that speaks to the extraordinary ability he had to fuse simplicity with essentialism. The Maralunga introduced the idea of an adjustable-height backrest, achieved by an avant-garde mechanism, patented by Cassina.
The back cushion unfolds and moves upwards to form a headrest, providing ultimate comfort and flexibility. In 2014, to celebrate Maralunga’s 40th anniversary, Cassina undertook a further restyling, making the fabric upholstery removable for cleaning, while adding details such as the edge stitching that confers a more contemporary look to a design classic.
Available in New Zealand from Matisse, the Maralunga collection has a vast range of finishes, including tan leather (pictured below). The Maralunga family includes three varied styles of an armchair, footrest, and sofas in several widths.
