UniFor new showroom, Domus Tiandi, Shanghai

The location of the new Molteni Group space in Shanghai holds profound significance, situated in the "Golden Union Shi Bo" compound along the tranquil Huangpu River. Once an industrial heritage site with old factory buildings, the area vividly reflects Shanghai's evolution from its industrial past to its present state. From an artistic and cultural standpoint, it serves as a pivotal hub for art, design, and cultural exchange. The Brutalist pre-existence of the building was the inspiration for the Store: reinforced concrete industrial columns, deliberately left exposed, dialogue with the new spaces, while portals and other elegant metal details scan and divide the domestic spaces of the store.

The two floors of the Molteni&C Flagship Store host works by renowned masters and designers of cities, spaces, interiors, and furnishings, such as Vincent Van Duysen, Jean Nouvel, Foster + Partners, Ron Gilad, Yabu Pushelberg, Herzog & de Meuron, Gio Ponti, Aldo Rossi, and Luca Meda, to name a few. On the ground floor, the home area showcases some of the greatest pieces of the Molteni&C collections, displayed throughout the living area, dining area, bedroom, and a space featuring the Molteni&C Dada Engineered Ratio kitchen. A bronze spiral staircase connects the ground floor with the first floor, which houses The Art Gallery, an open space with concrete and stainless steel as the main materials, where pieces designed by Gio Ponti and part of the Molteni&C Heritage Collection are the protagonists of a temporary installation.

From the gallery, through a large customized double-sided glass door of the RP partition system designed by Renzo Piano, visitors step into the UniFor world, a over 300 square meters area, featuring a workshop of expertise, where professionals can witness the company's expertise in designing and executing large-scale customized projects.

This environment seamlessly integrates iconic pieces such as the Parigi armchair, the Cartesio bookcase, the Consiglio table, and the Museo chair, originally designed by Aldo Rossi in the late 1980s and early 90s and reengineered by UniFor, alongside the latest additions from the PRINCIPLES collection, designed by the global architectural firm OMA, TDU, the mobile workstation by Studio Klass, X Shelving system launched in 2023 and designed by Foster + Partners, and the height-adjustable modular workstation originally used in the Commonwealth Bank of Australia offices.

The meeting room, enclosed within a glass-walled RP, features a 4.80-meter Element 02 meeting table by Foster + Partners, boasting a black metal structure and an extra-clear etched glass top back-painted in charcoal. Completing the display of iconic products by UniFor is the LessLess Colour series by Jean Nouvel, showcased in vibrant Red salsa and Conifer green. The working area of the floor is furnished with the 1998 Compasso d’Oro winner Flipper single tables by Pagani e Perversi and the height-adjustable bench S/200. Additionally, a large Naòs table by Pierluigi Cerri is the main protagonist of a private meeting area reserved for special customers.

The new Shanghai location also features Charcoal Restaurant, connected to the exhibition space via a wide entrance hall that showcases pieces from the first Molteni&C Outdoor Collections which seamlessly integrates with naturalistic elements, creating a relaxing setting where guests can feel the texture of the materials while experiencing the comfort of the seating.

The result is a new concept of experiential store, and a space where design, art, aesthetics and culture converge.