The three phases of research, from engineering to design.
1. Cassina has worked on this design and its technological challenges for a number of years. Back in 2006 the company reproduced “Veliero” in larger dimensions than those of the model in Via De Togni for the “Zero Gravity. Franco Albini, constructing modernity” exhibition, held at the Triennale in Milan by Albini’s pupil Renzo Piano. As a design from the archive suggests, this was a variation in size already established by Albini himself, which gave the company the chance to consider the critical structural issues inherent to the project. Even in this exercise, however, the bookcase continued to show signs of instability.
2. From then on Cassina carried out a close study of the Via De Togni model and the original drawings, in complete collaboration with Marco Albini, son of the architect and director of the Franco Albini
Foundation. The task focused on identifying engineering and construction techniques that would make it possible to guarantee the long-term stability of this almost visionary object, making it completely functional. The analysis of the system of steel ties, in particular, was fundamental and included fine-tuning of techniques that, as well as drawing from the sailing world, also took inspiration from great works of engineering such as suspension bridges.
3. Nonetheless, “Veliero”, at its long-awaited state of stability, still offered a limited load capacity, as the bookcase maintained its diaphram-like design as per Albini’s original concept. Cassina hasdeveloped its research project by also fine-tuning a design solution to increase the load capacity of the bookcase: a circular cross-section bar placed above the two diagonal struts increases the strength of the structure whilst conserving its overall harmony.
