In a talk with Claudio Salocchi Studio

It was in this climate of great innovation that Claudio Salocchi first introduced Palla, an armchair with soft, enveloping volumes destined to become an icon of design. As the designer’s heirs, Lorenzo and Tommaso Salocchi, recount: “Evoking such a revolution might seem a daring interpretation, yet it is true that in the field of furniture design, especially in those years, experimentation embraced new and unconventional forms in a relationship of reciprocal influences and cross-pollination of languages, meanings, customs and even technologies. The sphere, a magical yet rational figure par excellence, was the geometric matrix chosen to develop the project of a new armchair that would enhance the potential of moulding with expanded polyurethane.”

The playful aesthetic of Palla conceals an unexpected functionality, reflecting the pop taste of the time. The pouf and the structure are in fact joined together, interlocked in a dynamic dialogue that, in a single gesture, combines the practicality of a compact seat with the versatility of complete relaxation when the elements are separated. Yet while Salocchi skilfully interpreted the trends of the moment, the armchair is far more than a mere fashion product. As Lorenzo and Tommaso Salocchi explain: “Claudio Salocchi’s design vision has always gone beyond contingencies and passing fashions, with products that were certainly avant-garde but also carried an enduring value. The timeless design of Palla firmly lies in its ability to hold together many different factors, including the new creativity stimulated by the industrial process, within a harmonious balance.”

A little over fifty years after its creation, Palla is renewed as part of the Remasters collection. Together with the Free System sofa and the Napoleone coffee tables, the armchair reaffirms the affinity of vision and values between the designer and Acerbis: “The harmony between Salocchi’s design method and the Acerbis philosophy is clearly evident,” explain Lorenzo and Tommaso, “in the synthesis of modernity and tradition, of formal essentiality and attention to detail, in the union of technological innovation and artisanal expertise.”

Beyond refining the project, the reissue of Palla was also aimed at enhancing the armchair, which despite its iconic status remained a niche product. In collaboration with the Acerbis creative direction, work was therefore undertaken to breathe new life into the original project, as the Salocchi recount: “Thanks to the Acerbis R&D department, careful study of the lines and cuts through 3D modelling, and the diversification of foam densities, have made it possible to perfect Palla. The dynamism offered by the rotating base mechanism provides an additional and appealing option and, together with the selection of new fabrics, helps to update it for today’s needs […].” Now more than ever, Palla presents itself as a contemporary and innovative product, in step with the times and capable of integrating effortlessly into modern settings, introducing a playful and distinctive character.