5
Living Extensions
● Brand Profile
Founded in 2004, Visionnaire was born out of a desire to combine fine Italian craftsmanship with a
global outlook. Its roots date back to 1959, when Carlo, Pompeo and Vittorio Cavalli established IPE
in Bologna, originally producing upholstery for the automotive industry. A natural drive for innovation,
coupled with a strong industrial mindset, soon led the company into the world of furniture design: its
first design piece was unveiled at the debut edition of the Salone del Mobile in 1961. The piece was
the Mercury armchair, made of expanded polyurethane—a material rarely used in furniture at the
time—based on a sketch by sculptor Rito Valla.
