Gala, designed by Franco Albini in 1958, is an instant
classic of Italian design. The curvature of the elements
of Indian cane is designed to give elastic support to the
body following the forms. The light self-supporting structure is an exemplary tribute to the tradition of popular
craftsmanship, that of the canestrai (basket weavers).
Albini utilized the refined engineering device of tensile
structure to revive the original principle, creating an aerial
seat that is not based on the concept of a structure to
be covered, but rather makes the covering itself a structural system.
Museum exhibitions:
Gold Medal at the IX Triennale di Milano
MoMA, New York
Vitra Design Museum
Malacca structure bent by hand with fire. Hand-woven with Indian Rattan Cane previously softened in water and folded by hand. Bindings in flat oval Rattan Skin. Reclinable. Available in all lack finish.