Magistretti, Cassina & Carminate Biography
Vico Magistretti, born in 1920 in Milan, was a renowned Italian architect and designer. He graduated in Architecture in the same city in 1945 and immediately began working in the studio of his father, Piergiulio. During the post-World War II period, he played an active role in the reconstruction of the country, designing buildings, such as the INA - House and the QT8 neighborhood.
Magistretti also actively participated in the Milan Triennials, curating numerous sections and obtaining important recognition. Magistretti was a prolific designer and received numerous awards in his career. He won the Compasso d'Oro in 1967 for the Eclisse lamp by Artemide. In particular, his collaboration with Cassina was very significant and gave rise to innovatively designed products, which are still considered iconic and highly successful. This collaboration began in the 1960s and continued for more than 30 years, leading to the creation of pieces such as the timeless Maralunga sofa, the 905 armchair, the Nuvola Rossa bookcase (1977), the Edison table (1985/2021 ) and the Carimate collection (1963/64). Vico Magistretti died on 19 September 2006 in Milan.
Cesare Cassina, born in Meda in 1909, was an Italian entrepreneur. In 1927, together with his brother Umberto, he founded an artisan furniture production company in Carimate, which over time acquired great prestige thanks to the collaboration with renowned Italian architects and designers such as Vico Magistretti. Their collaboration with Magistretti began in the 1960s and lasted for three decades. From this synergy of ideas, timeless pieces of furniture were born, such as the Maralunga sofa, the 905 armchair, the Nuvola Rossa bookcase (1977), the Edison table (1985/2021) and the Carimate collection (1963/64). In 1966 (until 1973), Cassina founded C&B together with Piero Busnelli, with the aim of extending production through the use of innovative technologies. In 1973, he also created the Bracciodiferro brand and participated in the founding of the Marcatre company, specialized in the production of furniture for public spaces. Cesare Cassina died in 1979 in Carimate.
