Cool Since 1974 – Cassina celebrates the 40th anniversary of Maralunga, the iconic sofa by Vico Magistretti with a project that narrates the past, the present and the future.
The Cassina showroom in Milan pays tribute to one of the most famous sofas of our times: the Maralunga. A journey that traces the making of a legend, from its creation in the seventies through to today’s presentation of a fresh new edition, and a study project by students from the ECAL/University of art and design Lausanne.
The seventies: enlightening intuition
While ABBA were busy winning the Eurovision Song Contest singing Waterloo and Ern Rubik was inventing the twists and turns of the world's most famous cube, Vico Magistretti was completing one of his most renowned models, acclaimed winner of a Compasso d’Oro award. The anecdote tells of how Cesare Cassina punched a prototype of Maralunga with his clenched fist when it was shown to him by the Milanese architect, as the piece failed to completely meet his demand for extreme comfort. The consequent break of the poor sofa back was just the enlightenment Magistretti needed: the clumsy movement showed him the intuitive criterion needed to make this traditional element more innovative and he commented, “right, great, it looks perfect to me like that”.
The magic of movement, innovation and comfort
The Maralunga sofa immediately made its mark as an article with great strength and impact on the international market. The concealed innovation in the way its headrest could be moved to give a low or high back - developed from a simple bike chain - its reassuring appearance and the extreme simplicity of its soft padding, fully summarise the salient characteristics of this design.
“My intention with Maralunga”, said Vico Magistretti, “was to design an object that represented a whole range of interior architecture with a familiar feel. Somewhere warm, comfortable and cosy, where one can feel totally at ease in the new-found embrace of those old, comfy, protective reading armchairs pulled up to a fireplace or window. Two positions, two possible uses, two different ways to create your own personal space inside a room”.
2014: a new anniversary model
To celebrate this special anniversary, Cassina presents the new Maralunga ‘40 version, upholstered in fabric or leather with distinctive stitching, a simple yet refined pinch around the edges, which gives it an even more modern and youthful appearance. This new version joins the classic Maralunga to offer a more ample choice to suit all settings and, most of all, all ages.
Armchair, ottoman and sofas with steel frame and plastic material base. CFC-free polyurethane foam and polyester padding. Seat cushions in polyurethane foam and polyester padding.
Back with movable headrest which is instantaneously convertible from the low to the high position.
The sofa headrests are individual and independent for each seat.
Fabric or leather upholstery.
Cassina continues to celebrate one of the most famous sofas of our times: the Maralunga. A journey that traces the making of a legend, from its creation in the seventies through to today’s fresh new edition, the Maralunga 40 sofa, with a removable fabric upholstery.
The seventies: enlightening intuition
While ABBA were busy winning the Eurovision Song Contest singing Waterloo and Ernő Rubik was inventing the twists and turns of the world's most famous cube, Vico Magistretti was completing one of his most renowned models, acclaimed winner of a Compasso d’Oro award. The anecdote tells of how Cesare Cassina punched a prototype of Maralunga with his clenched fist when it was shown to him by the Milanese architect, as the piece failed to completely meet his demand for extreme comfort. The consequent break of the poor sofa back was just the enlightenment Magistretti needed: the clumsy movement showed him the intuitive criterion needed to make this traditional element more innovative and he commented, “right, great, it looks perfect to me like that”.
The magic of movement, innovation and comfort
The Maralunga sofa immediately made its mark as an article with great strength and impact on the international market. The concealed innovation in the way its headrest could be moved to give a low or high back - developed from a simple bike chain - its reassuring appearance and the extreme simplicity of its soft padding, fully summarise the salient characteristics of this design.
“My intention with Maralunga”, said Vico Magistretti, “was to design an object that represented a whole range of interior architecture with a familiar feel. Somewhere warm, comfortable and cosy, where one can feel totally at ease in the new-found embrace of those old, comfy, protective reading armchairs pulled up to a fireplace or window. Two positions, two possible uses, two different ways to create your own personal space inside a room”.
Divano Maralunga 40, Vico Magistretti – Collezione Cassina I Contemporanei, con il rivestimento sfoderabile in tessuto

Designer: Vico Magistretti
