Claudio Salocchi for Sormani

CLAUDIO SALOCCHI (Milan, 1934–2012) for Sormani.
Paione modular sofas, 1970s.
Leather, molded polymer base.
In good used condition, with visible signs of wear consistent with its age and use.
Measurements: H 62 x W 44 / 70 / 102 x D 60 / 70 cm, seat height 37 cm.

The Paione, designed by Claudio Salocchi for Sormani in the late 1960s (c. 1968–1970), is one of the most representative modular sofas of the radical Italian design movement of that era. Its concept revolves around maximum flexibility: it consists of independent modules of molded foam on a lightweight plastic frame, which can be freely combined to create linear sofas, corner arrangements, islands, or even daybeds. This modularity reflected a new way of understanding domestic space—one that was more informal and adaptable to the user’s needs. Formally, the Paione stands out for its low, generous, and rounded volumes.

Claudio Salocchi was one of the most interesting Italian architects and industrial designers of the second half of the 20th century. Trained at the Polytechnic University of Milan, he pursued a career spanning more than fifty years in the fields of architecture, furniture design, and interior design. Although he did not achieve the international fame of figures such as Joe Colombo or Vico Magistretti, he is considered a cult designer for his ability to anticipate new ways of living, experimenting with innovative materials, modular systems, and functional solutions of great formal purity. His name is particularly associated with the Sormani firm, with which he collaborated for two decades. For this company, he designed some of the most iconic pieces of Italian design from the 1960s and 1970s, such as the Centro rotating bookcase (1959), the Lia chair, the Ellisse series—a pioneer in the use of extruded aluminum in furniture—and the Napoleone tables. He also worked for Lumenform, Skipper, Rossi di Albizzate, and Alberti Cucine, developing furniture, lighting, and kitchen systems that combined technical innovation with minimalist elegance. One of the highlights of his career was the Compasso d’Oro he received in 1979 for Metrosistema, a revolutionary modular kitchen system that redefined ergonomics and the organization of domestic space. In addition, he served as vice president of the ADI (Associazione per il Disegno Industriale) from 1988 to 1990 and played an active role in promoting Italian design.