Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Meritalia Lounge Chair and Ottoman

Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Meritalia, 'Gitana' lounge chair and ottoman, fabric, metal, Italy, 1993

Lovely cloud-like lounge chair and ottoman designed by Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Meritalia in 1993. This design is characterized by exuberant padding in layers of soft covered wadding that profusely overflows the sides and backrest of the chairs. This upholstery has a spring tie rod system and has elastic joints on the bases. The whole of these chairs is executed in a bright red color, both the upholstery and the metal legs of the chairs. Needless to say, these chairs are extremely comfortable.

Afra (1937-2011) & Tobia (1935-) Scarpa are a duo of Italian architects and designers mostly known for their postmodern style. Afra Bianchin was born in 1937 in Montebelluna while Tobia Scarpa, son of the architect Carlo Scarpa, was born in 1935 in Venice. The couple met when they were both studying at the Venice Institute of Architecture and married afterwards. From 1957 until 1961, Tobia worked as a glass designer at the Murano glassworks of Venini. However, in 1960, the duo started to collaborate, and they set up one of the most successful and well-known professional studios. Together, they worked for companies such as Flos Gavina, B&B Italia, and Knoll. The couple won numerous amounts of awards like the Compasso d’Oro and the International Forum Design. Throughout their career, the duo carried out commissions for well-known companies, including Benetton. Overall, their designs are known for their modernist aesthetic, prioritizing elegance and comfort. However, at the same time, their pieces are admired for the ease with which they lean towards classical designs. Moreover, the creations show their deep understanding for materials. Today, many of their works can be found in major museums such as Museum of Mod­ern Art of New York, Musée du Lou­vre, National Museum of Design New York and many more.

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