Step inside the brand new Molteni & C Shanghai flagship, the place Brutalism meets refinemente

Molteni & C Shanghai showroom opens its doorways within the coronary heart of the town, marking a key second for the Italian firm’s growth in China. Set over two flooring, the three,500 sq. meters Shanghai Flagship is the brand new dwelling for the Molteni Group, encompassing places of work for the China-based workforce, a double providing of furnishings by Molteni & C and UniFor, and an Artwork Gallery. On web site can be Molteni & C’s indoor-outdoor Restaurant to increase the company’ expertise.

Molteni & C Shanghai showroom by Vincent Van Duysen

‘Once I began occupied with [Molteni & C Shanghai showroom], I needed to create the ambiance of a Palace, a succession of ordered rooms, views that highlighted the grandeur of the constructing, with the ability to visually cross it on the 2 spatial axes, the longitudinal and the transverse one,’ says Vincent Van Duysen, the corporate’s inventive director. ‘Silent however refined areas, at all times completely different from one another, in measurement and finishes related by a sculptural staircase, with particulars that discuss with Chinese language tradition, within the basic sober/elegant Molteni type.’

Van Duysen’s idea was impressed by the present Brutalist constructing the place the showroom is positioned, making a restrained industrial-style structure that adapts to the corporate’s evolving wants. The prevailing concrete columns had been left uncovered, in distinction with the refined interiors created by the architect that includes steel dividers and well-proportioned parts framing the furnishings compositions, whereas a bronze spiral staircase connects the 2 flooring. 

On the bottom flooring, the interiors are organized like a complicated residence, with areas for eating, sleeping, lounging and extra, successfully demonstrating the breadth of Molteni & C’s providing. Key items marking the showroom’s opening are Van Duysen’s Mateo Desk,  the Porta Volta chair by Herzog & de Meuron and iconic Gio Ponti designs, together with the D.154.2 armchair. Molteni & C’s wardrobe and storage techniques have a particular function within the area, with Van Duysen’s Gliss Grasp walk-in wardrobe within the bed room providing an summary of the corporate’s capabilities. 

Upstairs, the Artwork Gallery is devoted to showcasing Molteni & C’s 90 year-history with exhibitions on design icons together with Gio Ponti and Ignazio Gardella. 

By way of the gallery, company can enter the UniFor area (passing by way of a big custom-made double-sided glass door of the RP partition system by Renzo Piano), conceived as a spot for each shows and a workspace for architects to discover the chances of the corporate’s utility to large-scale bespoke initiatives. 

Lastly, the Charcoal Restaurant turns into a spot to showcase Molteni & C’s out of doors furnishings collections, curated by Van Duysen to mirror a recent Mediterranean method to design, in addition to timeless Gio Ponti furnishings.