Imagine being immersed in a spectacular African landscape. How would you like to enjoy the view? Probably relaxing on chairs whose forms and materials suggest a sense of place, of being part of a whole. These are the sensations prompted by Serengeti, which in the Masai language means ‘boundless plain.” This is a region of prairies, savannah and forests, in western Africa. A collection of outdoor furnishings for dining and lounge zones, celebrating the start of collaboration between Philippe Starck and JANUS et Cie. The preview was held during the recent Milan Design Week, though the official launch comes in January 2022.
“I live in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the mud, of the sand, of the forest. I dreamed of furniture that Nature could love, accept, integrate – Starck says. – Different, personal, original but timeless furniture that we could have found there, as it is, abandoned by elegant people. Furniture made with real wood in the middle of the woods. But above all, furniture that without stirring, like certain magical objects, takes you back to other times, other places, other dreams. This is why the Serengeti collection exists.”
The reminders of a colonial style are all in place: clean lines, high comfortable backs, voluminous and enveloping cushions, the teak wood chosen for the frame, carefully polished, with exposed peg joints, the powder-coated aluminium, the strong canvas covering. The awning built into the two-seat sofa with high back – the icon of the collection – takes its cue from safari camps, as well as offering an intelligent solution for protection from sunlight, gazing at the beauty of nature or stretching out on a veranda, or by the pool.
The series also includes an armchair, a dining table, a lounge chair, footrests, a coffee table and a side table. The canvas comes in the colors Gazelle, Horizon and Tusk, while the cushions can be ordered from the full range of JANUS et Cie outdoor fabrics.
“This collaboration has been an extraordinary opportunity to share in Starck’s vision of a distinctively nature-inspired collection forged in excellence at all stages of development to withstand the elements and be enjoyed for generations to come – says Carolina Zhang, vice-president for product development at JANUS et Cie – Starck has worked in concert with our team to bring his vision to reality, selecting the very best materials, engineered with great precision and rigorously tested for durability.”
Greg Gainer, CEO of JANUS et Cie, & the designer Philippe Starck
