Overview
At over 90 years old, it's easy to see how a historic design firm like Molteni&C might be tempted to rely on its legacy. Yet this mainstay of the high-end Italian furniture scene has kept reinventing itself through creative partnerships with influential architects and designers, while reinterpreting choice pieces from its deep, deep collection. At the same time, the brand has used flagship stores, like the one just opened in Surry Hills, to showcase its version of Italian savoir-faire in an immersive environment.
Set within one of Sydney's much-loved heritage buildings and interpreted through a distinctly Australian palette, the store sits at the intersection between Italian design heritage and contemporary Sydney living. Occupying a 760-square-metre heritage building built in the 1890s, the space has been reimagined as a dynamic residential setting, allowing guests to experience Molteni&C's luxurious furniture as if it were in their own home.
"The Sydney store is imagined less as a conventional retail environment and more as an 'art collector's house', where architecture, design and art coexist in a sequence of intimate, tactile rooms. The generous glass atrium brings natural light deep into the space, while materials such as travertine create a warm, tactile atmosphere," says Giulia Molteni, Molteni Group Chief Marketing Officer.
Inside, the space centres on a glass atrium that connects the two levels and draws in abundant natural light. Then, furniture, kitchens, wardrobes and complementary pieces combine to showcase how the brand's collections work together. You might spot some of Molteni&C's most significant pieces, including icons like the D.154.2 armchair by Gio Ponti and the Monk armchair by Tobia Scarpa. These appear alongside more contemporary creations, like the Emile sofa by Christophe Delcourt and the Augusto Sofa by Vincent Van Duysen.
At the same time, the Sydney flagship also features a strong art component. Thanks to a collaboration with Studio Gallery — about a 10-minute walk down Young Street — the store features numerous artworks by renowned Australian artists, presented in dialogue with the Italian furniture collection.
"Sydney is a city with a distinctive creative identity, and we wanted this new flagship store to reflect that spirit while remaining deeply rooted in the values that have shaped Molteni&C for more than 90 years: Italian design culture, manufacturing excellence and a continuous dialogue with leading international architects and designers," says Marco Piscitelli, Molteni Group CEO.
The Molteni&C Sydney Flagship Store is now open at 532 Riley Street, Surry Hills, operating Monday–Saturday from 10am–5pm. Head to the website for more information.
Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Images: Supplied.