Superstudio "Quaderna" Daybed for Zanotta, 1970

Design
1970

Manufacture
1970-1979

Location
Lonigo, IT

Superstudio "Quaderna" daybed for Zanotta, black leather, Italy, 1970.

The creative Italian collective Superstudio conceived the "Quaderna" series for Zanotta in 1970, bringing a disruptive approach to furniture design and emerging from the influential radical design movement in Florence. Founded in 1966 by Adolfo Natalini and Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Superstudio intervened in architecture with revolutionary theories and projects. After a failed attempt at self-production, the group turned to the industry for support. While Poltronova and Cassina rejected the concept, Aurelio Zanotta recognized the potential and decided to bring the design into production. The name Quaderna is a feminine re-transposition of the Italian word "quaderno", meaning notebook, and the grid pattern used in the design paradoxically becomes a symbol of freedom. This daybed is the perfect example of this new, iconic furniture series. The grid's neutrality encourages a flexible interaction between users and their environment, allowing them to engage with the pieces in a personalized, non-prescriptive way. Each piece in the series, from tables to beds, is constructed from a single sheet of laminate, ensuring the grid pattern remains continuous across surfaces, even if slightly misaligned. The distinctive grid pattern, in black with a 3 cm gap, is printed on white laminate, creating a clean and precise visual appearance. The "Quaderna" daybed, for example, has a tambour wooden structure covered in laminate, reflecting the rigor of Superstudio's vision.