Philippe Starck, Volage sofa 243

PHILIPPE STARCK (Paris, 1949).
Volage 243" two-seater sofa.
Ecru upholstery with capitonné. Steel legs.
Measurements: 60 x 210 x 80 cm.

The Volage sofa (designed in 2008) is a piece that redefines the concept of "classic sofa" through a bold blend of aristocratic elegance and industrial minimalism. The name "Volage" (which in French means fickle or fickle) refers to that visual lightness that deceives the eye: it looks like a classic and heavy sofa, but in reality it is a state-of-the-art technical and lightweight structure. With this model, Starck abandoned for a moment his more "revolutionary" or playful side (like the Alessi juicer) to focus on timeless luxury.

Starck studied at the École Nissim de Camondo in Paris. While working for Adidas, Starck created his first industrial design company, Starck Product, which he later renamed Ubik, after the Philip K. Dick novel, and began working with manufacturers in Italy, Alessi, Kartell and internationally, including Drimmer in Austria, Vitra in Switzerland and Disform in Spain. In 1983, then French President François Mitterrand, on the recommendation of his Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, chose Starck to renovate the president's private apartments at the Elysée Palace.