Over 5000 square meters of display area on five levels: IL Lusso is the largest showroom of furnishings Made in Italy on the African continent, a “taste of Milan” at Sandton, a suburb of Johannesburg, founded by Robert Marengo and Paco Pakdoust.
An impressive, glamorous building completed in 2019 by Paragon Group, a contemporary architectural volume with a façade in reflecting glass, contrasting with the overhanging forms in concrete and brick. Inside, the five large display levels rotate around a monumental, organic central staircase.
The interior design is the result of dialogue between the team of IL Lusso, the famous South African designer Jean du Rand and the partner brands. “We needed a space that would incorporate the basic values of Italian design: aesthetic principles, understanding of proportions, quality and attention to detail,” says Robert Marengo, who adds: “As a partner for some of the most exclusive brands, the focus of IL Lusso is first of all on design. Our goal is to bring functional, beautiful Italian furniture to a global market.”
A sort of contemporary luxury emporium organized in 18 independent boutiques, where visitors can see (and touch) the new creations of companies like Flexform, Arclinea, Baxter, B&B Italia, DeCastelli, Flos, Giorgetti, Glas Italia, Henge, Inalco, Knoll, Maxalto, Oluce, Paco Rugs, Paola Lenti, Bosa, Paola Paronetto, Baobab Collection, Pinetti, Mepra and Pent Fitness.
According to Paco Pakdoust, working in close contact with brands has been fundamental in order to create a Made in Italy atmosphere: “The companies with which we collaborate are a source of pride for us. They have all been carefully selected to represent the best of Italian luxury design, global names that mean quality and tradition. We always knew that we wanted to concentrate on the premium market – a small niche – and this has made it easier to limit the number of brands. These are trend-setting companies, followed by the rest of the world, examples of excellence that represent the essence of style, in a tribute to centuries of craftsmanship. Our aim is to present these brands with their entire range of products, something that has never been done fully in Africa, until today.”
A box of wonders to visit in person or by way of the virtual online showroom, getting lost amidst furniture, complements, carpets, objects, and an immense collection of works of art. Don’t miss the design division made available to clients, to transform dreams (and drawings) into reality.
