The Mascheroni Magazine 00
In this issue, we share photographs of a special version of the Symetrica bench in our Cabiate atelier and revisit our archive of images from Villa Necchi Campiglio. Two new photographic features complete the issue: the first pairs the Giubileo Round table with the G8 Conference armchairs, while the second focuses on the Cabrio armchair.
EDITORIAL
This first issue takes us inside our atelier in Cabiate and into the spaces where our furniture finds a home. Alongside the finished pieces, we’ll look at the people who make them, the techniques they use and the choices they make. For more than fifty years, this has been the daily work of our atelier.
Each issue will bring a small selection of stories to our clients, the design community and the press. Through them, we hope to share something of the work at Mascheroni that visitors rarely get to see.
Architecture at the scale of a seat
A special edition of the Symetrica bench from our Cabiate atelier, in NK Rust nubuck and mirror-polished steel.
In our Cabiate atelier, we make special versions of pieces from our collections that rarely appear in our catalogues. We photograph them here before they leave the workshop, so we can share the choices of materials and finishes that give each piece its individual character.
The Symetrica bench pairs a mirror-polished steel shell with a seat upholstered in NK Rust nubuck. Along the bench’s profile, each steel element catches the light against the soft, matte surface of the leather. The design retains its distinctive form, while the choice of materials changes its presence in the room. Variations like this show what is possible when we make a piece to order.
Inhabiting Time
Mascheroni at Villa Necchi Campiglio, November 2011
In November 2011, Mascheroni was among the first companies to photograph its furniture inside Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan. Designed in the 1930s by the architect Piero Portaluppi, the villa had been restored by FAI (Fondo per l’Ambiente Italiano), a foundation dedicated to preserving Italy’s heritage and making it accessible to the public.
The G7 desk, The President armchair and the Glasgow sofa take their place among the villa’s bookcases, artworks and furnishings. The photographs show how the proportions of each piece relate to the room around it, with a closer look at the wood surfaces, the leather and the deep buttoning of the upholstery.
The Geometry of Dialogue
The Giubileo Round table and G8 Conference armchairs in a room with a circular floor plan.
The circular plan of the room and the radial timber cladding of the dome draw the space together around the Giubileo Round table. The G8 Conference armchairs follow the curve of the tabletop, echoing the shape of the room.
Canaletto walnut forms the base and the shaped edge that frames the broad leather-covered top. The polished steel bases of the armchairs catch the light differently from the wood and leather. The table’s dimensions, shape and fittings can be tailored to each project, with cabling and multimedia equipment built into the structure. These choices bring the furniture into balance with the architecture and the needs of the people who use the room.
The design of the Giubileo Round table takes shape through the different ways Canaletto walnut and leather are worked. The wooden base supports the top and gives the table its sense of volume. A shaped walnut edge frames the leather surface, drawing the eye to the point where the two materials meet.
Designed for executive offices and meeting rooms, Giubileo can be made in a range of shapes and sizes. Power connections, cable channels and multimedia equipment can be integrated into the structure to suit the way the table will be used. Its proportions, materials and fittings can be tailored to each project while preserving the character of the design.
The leatherwork of the G8 Conference armchair follows the contours of a design conceived for meeting rooms and executive offices. A solid wood frame supports the padding, and each chair is upholstered by hand in cowhide leather from the Mascheroni Leather Colour System.
The polished steel of the five-star swivel base contrasts with the surface of the leather. Castors let the chair move easily, while height adjustment and a tilt mechanism allow the sitter to change position. The choice of leather gives the chair a different character and changes how it sits alongside the other furniture in the room. The range also includes high-back executive chairs and versions for guests.
Cabrio. Under open skies
The profile of the shell and the stitching in the leather recall the lines of vintage roadsters
In the Cabrio armchair, the profile of the shell and the seams running across the rear of the backrest recall the lines of vintage roadsters. Full-grain leather follows the contours of the seat, its soft, inviting surface complementing the precise lines of the structure.
Seen from behind, Cabrio reveals another side of its design in the horizontal seams, the fine piping and the junction between leather and steel. These details carry the lines of the chair around to the back, giving the backrest its distinctive character. The integrated tilt mechanism allows the seat to follow the sitter’s movement, bringing form and comfort together.
