Molteni&C Melbourne Flagship Showroom

Italian design powerhouse Molteni&C has opened its flagship store on Church Street in Richmond, Melbourne. Reminiscent of the warmth, sophistication and comfort of a modern home, the showroom gives customers the chance to explore the brand’s furniture collections in a crafted, refined way.

The company worked closely with Jacqueline Foti-Lowe, who channelled her expertise to ensure the retail destination was delivered to the exacting standards of Belgian architect and Molteni&C creative director Vincent Van Duysen. Vincent’s vision for the brand’s retail experience is defined by the Home Concept, with a dynamic, natural material palette that captures the company’s innate character.

Vincent’s vision for the brand’s retail experience is defined by the Home Concept, with a dynamic, natural material palette that captures the company’s innate character.

The Melbourne retail space features high ceilings, a central public courtyard and materials such as travertine and natural oak. The distinctive red brick building – designed by Architectus Australia – is reminiscent of a New York City apartment complex, and the interior is divided into distinctive spaces. The courtyard offers an oasis from the bustle of busy Church Street, with glass doors bringing in an abundance of natural light. Each element of this considered space evokes cordiality and familiarity, with the core Molteni&C theme – a Warm and Fluid Home, devised by Vincent – at the centre of the design concept.

The colour scheme is expressed mainly in greys and beiges, and the setting not only provides a quiet backdrop but helps in crafting a sense of the familiar and moments of soft tranquillity.

The distinctive red brick building – designed by Architectus Australia – is reminiscent of a New York City apartment complex, and the interior is divided into distinctive spaces.

Imagined as a single-storey residence, the showroom is divided by columns, partition walls and oversized planter boxes that create clear lines and breaks between interrelated areas, with light playing a critical role in the interior’s architectural composition. Shadows are cast in between thresholds and partitions, adding to the sense of flow and movement. Dark areas allow focal lighting to showcase intimate views that enhance the experience of each furniture piece. The notion of touch is similarly important, with clients encouraged to explore the tactile nature of the space and collections while appreciating the sense of comfort the Molteni&C offering can add to any interior.

Each piece is as much part of the design as the architecture, expressing fluidity, adaptability and modularity, whether that be designs for bedrooms, living areas or dining rooms. The showroom displays the brand’s Home collection, which includes indoor and outdoor furniture, rugs, kitchens, wardrobes, joinery and multimedia systems designed by the likes of Foster + Partners, Patricia Urquiola, Herzog & de Meuron and Jean Nouvel. The Heritage collection is also featured, with iconic designs from Gio Ponti and Tobia Scarpa.

With expertise and charisma, the 90-year-old company continues to be a proud innovator in the design world, showcasing a specific understanding of contemporary living. The new flagship store exhibits Molteni&C’s ability to craft sophisticated spaces that ignite curiosity and an appreciation for timeless design.

Building architecture by Architectus Australia. Interior concept and furniture by Molteni&C. Build by Mood Construction. Development by Salta Properties and Abacus Property Group.