Cassina CEO Luca Fuso on the iMaestri Collection and the Power of Archives
Luca Fuso, CEO of Cassina, discusses the company's 50th anniversary of the iMaestri collection, its archival research, and its balance between heritage and innovation. Founded in 1927 in Meda, Italy, Cassina pioneered industrial design in the 1950s. The iMaestri collection, launched in 1974, now includes 14 masters, with four added in 2024. Fuso explains that each new project begins with deep research into the original idea, allowing Cassina to reissue classics and realize unrealized projects from archives. The company collaborates with foundations, heirs, and museum archives to maintain authenticity. Selection criteria for iMaestri require the designer to have made a significant impact and be deceased. The Research and Development Center, founded in 1969, continues to work with emerging designers and advanced technologies. Cassina adapts products for modern contexts while preserving original forms, using sustainable materials and disassemblable designs. The interview was published by Artribune in January 2025.
Key facts
- Cassina was founded in 1927 in Meda, Italy.
- The iMaestri collection celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024 with the book 'Echoes, Cassina. 50 Years of iMaestri'.
- The collection includes 14 masters, four added in 2024.
- The first contract with Le Corbusier was signed in 1964.
- Cassina's Research and Development Center was founded in 1969.
- Selection for iMaestri requires the designer to be deceased.
- Cassina uses sustainable, disassemblable materials.
- The interview was conducted by Alessia Caliendo for Artribune.
Entities
Artists
- Cesare Cassina
- Umberto Cassina
- Le Corbusier
- Giacomo Balla
- Gaetano Pesce
- Mario Bellini
- Luca Fuso
- Alessia Caliendo
- Lorenzo Marzi
- Nicola Cattelan
- Nicolò Bassetto
- Antonio Bettini
- Giorgio Manzardo
Institutions
- Cassina
- Artribune
- IED Roma
- Central Saint Martins
Locations
- Meda
- Monza
- Brianza
- Lombardy
- Italy
- Rome
- London