OUR STORY

Paolo Cassina's New York based company, founded in 2015, comes as the natural completion of a journey initiated four decades ago, when Paolo decided to take a summer job at the Cassina factory in Milano. His father Renato - better known as Nene - was his inspiration. Nene worked for fifty years at Cassina, contributing to the success and quality of the Cassina brand as we know it today.

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Exposed since those early years to the creative and exciting world of the design community in Milan, and influenced by designers such as Gianfranco Frattini, Achille Castiglioni and Vico Magistretti - whom he had the pleasure to know personally - in 1989 Paolo graduated in architecture at the Politecnico of Milan. 

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In 1986, when he joined SOM for an internship program, he had his first taste of New York. Paolo spent the next years collaborating with several architecture firms and gathering field experience while working on different projects throughout Italy, London and Saudi Arabia. In 1992 he moved to New York City. 

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Here, thanks to his architectural education background and expertise, he soon engaged with the local design community and introduced the Cassina Contract Division to the US market. He managed the US operations and developed projects for several fashion brands such as  Bally of Switzerland, Zegna, Ferragamo, Frette and for a number of new and upcoming hospitality chains, including the Schraeger Hotels, the Shore Club Miami Beach, the Bryant Park Hotel and more. 

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During those years, he developed and cultivated relationships with design firms of the likes of Foster and Partners, David Chipperfield and Gensler.  In 2002, following 9/11, Paolo moved with his family to London to become an Associate of Flos UK next to his old friend and mentor John Cook. 

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Once in England, his path crossed with Foster and Partners again. With Italian manufacturer IOC he developed, supplied and installed the office partition system for the Hearst Publication Building in Manhattan.

2006 is a turning point in Paolo's career. He moved to Qatar to found and manage the Cassina and Poltrona Frau Group Contract division. Here, with the help of a small crew, he started working out of a portacabin at the Museum of Islamic Art site. 

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Through a span of ten years, the business grew to a 65 employee interior fit-out company based in the heart of Doha. Paolo managed to establish close cooperation with clients such as Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Foundation, the Qatar Museum Authority and the New Doha International Airport. His enterprise played a prominent role in the interior design development and fabrication of corner stone projects such as the QF HQ, the Museum of Islamic Art, the National Library, the Sidra Medical Center and the Emiri Terminal at NDIA.

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As of 2016 Paolo has returned to New York.

Museum of Islamic Art,
Scope includes standard and bespoke FF&E package.

Private Spa,

Doha

Complete fit out inclusive of special finishes and furniture and MEP works.

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Emiri Terminal,
Scope include monumental arched Doors, interior wall finishes