Molteni Group has inaugurated its new flagship store in Shanghai, the largest in the world, in collaboration with Domus Tiandi, a leader in the furniture industry in China. The 3,500 square meter exhibition space, spread over two floors, is located in the “Golden Union Shi bo” area on the banks of the Huangpu River, once an industrial site and today a vibrant cultural center of the city. The location, adjacent to the Shanghai Power Station of Art and the Dingbo Tower designed by David Chipperfield, underlines the link between Shanghai’s industrial past and its present dedicated to design and innovation.
The showroom presents the Molteni&C collections, including offices, and a UniFor space dedicated to architects and designers. An area is dedicated to the art gallery, with a temporary exhibition dedicated to Gio Ponti and the Heritage Collection. A restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating completes the space. The building, a former industrial site, retains original structural elements such as the reinforced concrete columns, integrated into the new design by Vincent Van Duysen. The exhibition space houses works by internationally renowned designers and architects, including Jean Nouvel, Foster + Partners, Ron Gilad and Herzog & de Meuron.
Among the pieces on display: the Mateo table in Calacatta marble, the Tea chairs by Jasper Morrison, the 505UP system by Nicola Gallizia, the Gliss Master wardrobe by Vincent Van Duysen, and the Dada Engineered Ratio kitchen. The Heritage Collection is represented by iconic pieces such as the D.154.2 armchair by Gio Ponti. On the first floor, in addition to the art gallery dedicated to Gio Ponti, there is a kitchen with the VVD model in Travertine marble, living areas, a meeting room with the Naòs table by Pierluigi Cerri, and corporate offices.
A glass door from the RP system by Renzo Piano leads to the UniFor space, which presents the company’s expertise in the design of large-scale projects. The Charcoal restaurant, furnished with pieces from the Molteni&C and Molteni&C Outdoor collections, completes the space.
Sammy Yan, Marco Piscitelli, Cathy Cheung, Giulia Molteni, Giovanni Molteni
Photo © Jonathan Leijonhufvud
