‘Dry’ and ‘humid’ can describe design as well as climate. The design of Fernando and Humberto Campana, for example, is most definitely humid. It recalls their native Brazil: the dense canopies of the Amazon and the sultry, caiman-infested swamps of the Pantanal. Forms are never dry and exact, but abundant and sensual. Like some Amazonian plants, they exude a carnal sensuality, enveloping and embracing all who approach.

Their design is voluptuous. And slightly unnerving - like Jakaré caimans slinking through muddy waters, or giant starfish lurking in the turbid Brazilian seas. It is dense like the mists cloaking forests and swamps. With a tactile quality you can feel against your skin like dew or low lying cloud. The brothers’ latest creatures come straight from these humid climes: Kaiman Jacarè, a frameless upholstered seat made of several irregular-shaped elements put together to resemble a tangle of alligators; Aster Papposus, a frameless chair made up of two similar component pieces placed one on top of the other to form a huge starfish in which to sit supported by huge tentacles; and the twisting, looping tangle of the Boa sofa. The creations are set against a backdrop of images that gradually take shape as clammy mists lift in a shadowy Pantanal gloom to reveal human bodies and padded shapes intertwined in sensual profusion.

For the humid, tropical feel pervading the work of Fernando and Humberto Campana hints at violent sensations lying just below the surface – sensations the Brazilian brothers have dared express. The exclusive upholstery options, all chosen for their affinity with the animal world, include crocodile-print leather, artificial furs, and a sleek, scaly fabric in shimmering colours.

dimensions: 4,5m x 2.6 m. Price:around 25.000 euros. 

A toy for alessi will be produced soon, with the same shape as Kaiman Katarè cushion.