CRAFTING COMFORT ACROSS ERAS: ZANOTTA ARMCHAIRS
October 27, 2025
Nova Milanese, October 2025 - Seating has always been a field of experimentation for Zanotta: each product is conceived as an encounter between technology and craftsmanship, balancing structural rigour with enveloping softness.
Striking a dialogue between continuity and innovation, every design becomes an opportunity to reinterpret the same idea of ultimate comfort in different shapes and aesthetics, capable of transcending styles and trends.
Zanotta’s range of armchairs is particularly broad and versatile, offering different solutions in terms of types and uses, able to adapt naturally to settings ranging from contract to residential.Three projects epitomise this philosophy: Yori-Kiri, the new lounge chair designed by Francesca Lanzavecchia; Nena Lounge, the natural evolution of the Nena family by Lanzavecchia + Wai; and Maggiolina, Marco Zanuso’s 1947 icon that continues to embody modernity.
The name Yori-Kiri is drawn from a traditional sumo move symbolising strength, balance, and control – values reflected in the sculptural yet inviting silhouette of this bergère, complete with a matching ottoman. Generous upholstery and curved armrests that flow seamlessly into the backrest express a balance between geometric precision and tactile softness.
Its dimensions (87 cm wide, 105 cm high, 99 cm deep) provide a generous seat, while a concealed synchronised mechanism allows the backrest to recline smoothly and intuitively, with the option to lock it in any position.
The frame is in steel; the padding in self-extinguishing polyurethane foam with plant-based polyols, complemented by a back cushion in recycled PET fibre. The fabric upholstery is fully removable, ensuring durability and ease of maintenance. The swivel base in polished painted metal is available in talc, hemp, orange, algae, amaranth, and black.
The matching pouf (74 × 37 × 58 cm) is crafted with the same construction details, acting as a natural extension of the armchair.
With Nena Lounge, Lanzavecchia + Wai expand the Nena seating family, adding an armchair to the existing chair and stool. The collection stems from the idea of versatile comfort, adaptable to both domestic and contract settings, offering an ergonomic seating experience.
The lounge chair is defined by the contrast between the lightness of its steel frame and the softness of its upholstered elements, lending it a contemporary and recognisable identity.
The semi-circular backrest, which also functions as an armrest, provides support and comfort, while the open space between seat and back lightens the volume, emphasising the dynamism of the slender, angled legs.
A distinctive feature of the collection is the concealed zip along the back, softened by a delicate ruffle detail, which refines the profile and allows the cover – in fabric or leather – to be removed.
Designed in 1947 by Marco Zanuso, the Maggiolina lounge chair marks a turning point in the history of design. Originally conceived for a MoMA New York competition, it represented a shift away from traditional artisanal techniques towards a construction system designed for industrial serial production.
The structure is in steel, while the shell – in pigmented leather 90 – accommodates two plywood panels suspended within a textile “sling”, supporting the cushions: goose-down padding for the backrest, polyurethane/Dacron Du Pont for the seat. Upholstery options include fabric, Ecofire, or leather, with matching armrests available in leather or Ecofire.
An enduring icon, Maggiolina has traversed eras: from experimental exercise in process simplification to timeless design classic, embodying elegance and innovation.
ABOUT ZANOTTA
Zanotta is driven by passion, supported by a pioneering approach, and inspired by radical design ideas. Since 1954, Zanotta has shaped the landscape of Italian design with its innovation and creativity. Starting in the bespoke upholstered sector, it quickly evolved into the design of furniture, collaborating with great masters of Italian design such as Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Gae Aulenti, Marco Zanuso, among others. Zanotta revolutionised the concept of furniture, creating iconic and innovative pieces that challenge traditional conventions. The company stands out for its ability to anticipate trends and transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, encouraging designers to break patterns and preconceived notions. Zanotta has been awarded prestigious accolades in the field of design, including the Compasso d'Oro, and its collection is exhibited in some of the most important museums around the world, from the MoMA in New York to the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Every Zanotta product is entirely made in Italy, reflecting attention to aesthetics, originality, and functionality. In 2023, Zanotta was acquired by Cassina, marking a new chapter in its history and becoming part of the Haworth Lifestyle division.
zanotta.com
ABOUT FRANCESCA LANZAVECCHIA
Daring, eclectic, unconventional, and empathetic. This is Francesca Lanzavecchia's approach to design. Born in Pavia in 1983, she graduated in Industrial Design from the Politecnico di Milano and then attended the Master's program in Conceptual Design at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, where she graduated with honors in 2008. In Eindhoven, her vision of design began to take shape as a prismatic and multifaceted discipline, a universal visual alphabet capable of shaping the existing with poetic and subversive elegance. For her, being a designer means being a researcher, engineer, artisan, and fabulists of life stories, such as those expressed by her projects. These projects serve as both functional and symbolic extensions of ourselves, carrying with them stories, gestures, and daily rituals that create a personal and emotional connection. From furniture to product design to interior design, her collections reflect a methodological and professional inclination towards Universal Design and the creation of products that are truly accessible to all categories of people. Francesca is a storyteller, a restless aesthete, and a nomadic-inspired designer. In 2010, she co- founded Lanzavecchia + Wai, a multidisciplinary design studio with Hunn Wai.
lanzavecchia-wai.com