‘Soriana’ lounge chair, early 1970s

Wooden panel base, metal structure, castors in steel and plastic and cotton fabric upholstery. Padding in polyurethane foam.

Designed in 1969 and manufactured by Cassina, Italy, in the early 1970s.

Dimensions:

89 W x 125 D x 60 H (40 H seat) cm / 35 x 49.2 x 23.6 H (15.7 H seat) in

The idea of comfort itself becomes an armchair. Soriana came into being in 1969, thanks to an intuitive vision by Afra and Tobia Scarpa that was destined to re-write the history of upholstered furniture. By taking advantage of new polyurethane foam forming techniques, they crafted an armchair that, for the first time, has no need for internal support, but takes its shape from the grip of the metal structure that embraces it. In the sweet spot between formal and informal, it is inviting and open to new lifestyles; in 1970 Soriana was awarded the Compasso d’Oro as a masterpiece of complexity achieved through simple tools.

“At the beginning, the workers did not understand that the leather covering was not supposed to be taut,” explained Tobia. “Rather it needed to appear like a soft, creased fabric curled around this soft mass and held together by a sort of giant metal spring.”

Like many of the other styles from the 70s, it sits low to ground — a welcoming gesture that allows people to come together without fuss or fanfare.