The Kangaroo armchair, designed by Pierre Jeanneret in the 1950s for the Chandigarh General Hospital, is an icon of modernist design. It stands out for its solid wood "Z" structure and its seat and backrest in Vienna straw, which express the perfect balance between European modernism and Indian tradition. Reissued by Cassina, it maintains its essential design, with the possibility of adding an optional cushion for greater comfort.
Cassina
Cassina was founded in 1927 in Meda (Milan) by Cesare and Umberto Cassina, inaugurating industrial design in Italy in the 1950s. The brand's identity is found in an original union where technological aptitude is closely linked to traditional craftsmanship. Cassina maintains its ancient heart, the carpentry, the linchpin of all its workmanship. It is characterised by a transversal culture of absolute quality, which makes each Cassina piece unique.
Pierre Jeanneret, born in Geneva in 1896, is among the most important personalities in the history of architecture and design. After studying at the École des Beaux-Arts in his hometown, his career began to take shape at the Perret brothers' studio, by which he was strongly influenced. In 1922 he opened his first studio together with his famous cousin Le Corbusier, with whom he carried out large projects during most of his life. In 1951 the two cousins created the majestic Capitol Complex architectural work, in the Indian city of Chandigharh, of which they designed the interiors and furnishings. The furnishings created for this project aroused interest in Cassina, which decided to include Jeanneret among the great architects belonging to the Cassina I Maestri Collection and created a collection of furnishings in his honor.