Molteni&C has partnered 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 was added 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 configuration and a version featuring a wider and lower seat. The armchair remains a symbol of refined simplicity, combining expressive materials with architectural clarity of form.
© Molteni&C
For this edition, Molteni&C invited Cabana to reinterpret this Italian design icon. The collaboration celebrates the encounter between two worlds: the formal rigor of Scarpa's modernism and Cabana's poetic decorative sensibility, resulting in a limited edition of timeless elegance. Cabana preserves Monk's modernist spirit while introducing its distinctive aesthetic.
The Molteni&C x Cabana Monk armchair features a solid American walnut frame made of two equally sized trestles attached to shaped metal tubing, forming a single element for the seat and back. The trestles are joined by pairs of screws and accented by large burnished steel hubs. The seat structure is made of natural hide leather shaped for comfort, while the backrest displays an exclusive Cabana-designed motif.
Drawing inspiration from 20th-century masters such as Jean Jeanneret, Marcel Breuer, and Thonet, the reinterpretation pays homage to the artisanal tradition of Viennese cane weaving. A laser-engraved motif on the hide leather backrest reveals a vivid red panel beneath, creating a striking contrast of materiality and color while maintaining the chair's monastic purity.
Starting 3 November 2025, the Molteni&C x Cabana Monk armchair will be on display at Palazzo Molteni in Milan and at Molteni&C Flagship Stores in New York and London. Produced in a limited number, it will be available for purchase at all directly operated stores worldwide (New York, London, Paris, Miami, Washington D.C., Doha, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Singapore, and soon Sydney), on the Molteni&C US online store, Cabana's e-commerce platform, and at the Cabana Store in Milan.
© Molteni&C
Tobia Scarpa, Italian architect and designer, remarked:
"I'm intrigued by how some objects, when touched by a spark of imagination, never fail to awaken curiosity — and a sense of wonder."
Born in Venice in 1935, Scarpa graduated in Architecture (IUAV) in 1969. His versatile career spans architecture, restoration, design, graphics, and teaching. He collaborated with important Italian and international companies, including Molteni&C and UniFor. Scarpa has received numerous international awards, including the Compasso d'Oro in 2008, and his works are exhibited in museums worldwide.
More information:
Molteni&C
www.moltenigroup.com
