Regent Model Sofa by Marco Zanuso for Arflex, 1958

Italian architect-designer Marco Zanuso, Jr. was born in Milan in 1954. He studied architecture at Florence University of the Arts, graduating in 1978 with a four-year degree. His thesis focused on radical architecture and its main players, including Superstudio, Michele De Lucchi, Ufo, Andrea Branzi, Ettore Sottsass, and Alessandro Mendini.

After school, he worked with his uncle, noted architect-designer Marco Zanuso, on several projects, including the Piccolo Teatro, Teatro Fossati, Hotel Continental a Milano, and products for Poltrona Frau, Zanotta, Lavazza, and other high end brands. During that period, he also worked with Enzo Mari and Achille Castiglioni at the Polytechnic University of Milan. As Zanuso notes, “I think that doing projects with other artists is a very important thing that makes both grow.”

Zanuso established his studio in Milan in 1990, alongside designer Daniel Nava. (Eight years later, the studio moved to a new location, though also in Milan.) The practice focuses on product and architectural design spanning residential, commercial, interiors, and exhibition projects. Zanuso’s work is at once functional and highly original. Describing his overarching aesthetic, the designer says, “I think that a project is complete when it radiates harmony; and this feature must last, or even grow, over time.” Clients include Carrefour, Mondadori, Triennale di Milano, Memphis, Fontana Arte, Cappellini, De Padova, and Driade, among others. Over the years, he has collaborated with galleries such as Galerie Italienne in Paris and Fragile in Milan. He has also developed objects and experiments with small producers and craftsmen.

Standout projects include the 2006 Policromi collection for Galerie Italienne, featuring colorful furniture and vessels made of laser-cut and folded metal and steel pieces; the 2015 Tamiso series for Fragile, consisting of furniture and accessories composed of upcycled wooden remnants; as well as a pair of metal and wood tables called Antonio and Cleopatra made for Memphis in 1987.

Italian furniture manufacturing company Arflex was originally founded in Milan 1947 by a team of engineers—Carlo Barassi, Renato Teani, Pio Reggiani, and Aldo Bai—from Italian tire company Pirelli. While exploring new technologies in rubber production, they developed a new polyurethane foam and elastic tape that held great potential for modernist furniture design. Italian architect-designer Marco Zanuso (1916-2001) was brought in to create the first collections, guided by the principle that the new materials would inform the aesthetic result.

In 1951, Arflex unveiled its first piece, Zanuso’s Lady Armchair, which won the gold medal at Milan’s IX Triennale and helped catapult Arflex to international acclaim. Other successful designs by Zanuso were introduced over the years, such as the Sleep-o-matic Sofa (1951), the Martingala Armchair (1952), and the Fourline Armchair (1964).

Starting in 1952, Arflex began to work with other Italian architect-designers to broaden their product line. Standouts from the postwar era include the Fiorenza Armchair (1952) by Franco Albini, the Neptunia (1953) and Elettra (1954) collections by BBPR, the Delfino collection (1954) by Erberto Carboni, and the Bobo Lounge (1967) and Serpentone Lounge (1971) by Cini Boeri. Through the decades, Arflex has worked with an astounding roster of influential talents: Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Roberto Manghi, , Joe Colombo, Tito Agnoli, Carlo Mollino, Michele De Lucchi, Yaacov Kaufman, Ettore Sottsass, and Angelo Mangiarotti.

Between 1951 and 1954, Arflex also produced car seats for Fiat. These seats, designed by Barassi, were adjustable and offered superior comfort thanks to the suppleness of the polyurethane foam rubber. In 1966—in collaboration with Italian furniture brands Cassina, Tecno, and Bernini—Arflex created the legendary design magazine Ottagono, which is still in publication today. In 1969, Arflex Japan was founded, followed by Arflex du Brazil in 1970.

The company trademark was bought by Seven Salotti Spa in 1995, and a number of discontinued designs were put back into production. In 2007, Arflex celebrated its 60th anniversary with a large-scale exhibition of works from the brand’s historical mounted in Milan during Salone del Mobile.

Arflex is celebrated for its incredible legacy working with iconic designers who have won numerous awards, and Arflex designs can be found in museums around the world, like the Triennale Museum in Milan, the Triennale Museum in Tokyo, the MoMa in New York, and the Chicago Athenaeum.