Minotti Rivera outdoor armchair and sofa

Cane weave on iroko

Dordoni set out to mix materials that rarely meet outdoors: light metal, warm wood, a woven back and upholstery. The base is iroko heartwood, a dense hardwood valued for standing up to damp. The back is polypropylene fiber, woven into the open cannage pattern familiar from bistro chairs, in light gray or dark brown. Cannage takes patience and a skilled hand, and the work shows in the even rhythm of the mesh. Polypropylene does not rot or swell when wet, and the open weave lets air through so it dries quickly after rain.

The detail most people notice is the frame. On the armchair and on both sofas, the iroko base extends past the seat in a cantilever, and the flat end becomes a ledge for a glass, a phone or a small plate. That removes the need for a side table next to every seat. The armchair is deep and built for sitting back, while Rivera Little is the compact version for tighter terraces or for pulling up to a low table. For anyone comparing Minotti lounge chairs, that wooden ledge is the feature to look at first.

Iroko weathers much like teak. Left alone, the natural brown turns silver gray within a season or two in full sun; a yearly oil keeps the original tone. The polypropylene back needs only a rinse with the hose. Cushions are upholstered in outdoor fabric, and in a long wet winter it makes sense to store them indoors or under a cover. Dordoni pictured this set on a lakeside veranda or on a terrace facing the sea, and its low, retro line suits both settings.