Italy
Molteni&C partners with Cabana to unveil a special edition of the iconic Monk armchair, a symbol of Italian design, reimagined with a contemporary decorative lens.
First designed in 1973 by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, the Monk armchair has been introduced to the Molteni&C Heritage Collection in 2025. This special reissue pays tribute to the enduring relevance of its design philosophy and is available in both the classic c onfiguration and a version featuring a wider and lower seat. The Monk armchair remains a symbol of refined simplicity, combining expressive materials with architectural clarity of form.
For this special edition, Molteni&C has invited Cabana to reinterpret th is icon of Italian design.
This unique collaboration celebrates the encounter between two worlds: the formal rigor of Scarpa’s modernism and Cabana’s poetic decorative sensibility, producing a limited edition that resonates with timeless elegance.
Known for its deep exploration of decoration and material culture, Cabana sought to preserve Monk’s modernist spirit while introducing its own distinctive aesthetic. Preserving the character of the original, the Molteni&C x Cabana Monk armchair special edition presents a solid American walnut frame made of two equally sized trestles attached to shaped metal tubing, creating a single element for the seat and back.
The two structural parts are joined by two pairs of screws for each trestle, accented by large, burnished steel hubs. The seat structure is made of natural hide leather, shaped for comfort, while the backrest is distinguished by an exclusive Cabana-designed motif.
Drawing inspiration from the great masters of the 20th century — Jean Jeanneret, Marcel Breuer, and Thonet — the reinterpretation pays homage to the artisanal tradition of Viennese cane weaving. The laser-engraved motif on the hide leather backrest reveals a vivid red panel beneath in a striking contrast of materiality and color that still maintains the chair’s monastic purity , introducing a refined play of texture and color.
About Tobia Scarpa: “I’m intrigued by how some objects, when touched by a spark of imagination, never fail to awaken curiosity — and a sense of wonder.”
Tobia Scarpa Italian architect and designer, Tobia Scarpa was born in Venice in 1935, where he graduated in Architecture (IUAV) in 1969. A versatile and curious designer, his long career saw him involved in architecture, restoration, outfitting, design, graphics, teach ing. In the sixties he established himself as a leader in the industrial design by collaborating with various important Italian and international companies, including Molteni&C and Uni For. Between 2001 and 2009 he devoted himself to teaching at the Universities of Venice and Alghero. He received numerous international awards. In 2008 he was awarded with the Compasso d’Oro for his achievements during his career. His works are exhibited in many museums worldwide and his monographic exhibitions were held in Milan, New York, Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Bordeaux. Many articles in national and international magazines and essays featured him.
