A Space Evoking a Serene Lifestyle

The flagship store, Molteni Tokyo, is situated in a tranquil area of Minami-Aoyama, adjacent to the Nezu Museum's gardens. The store spans two floors, showcasing storage solutions, tables, and sofas arranged to reflect various lifestyle scenarios. The first floor features living and dining areas, while the basement level presents items for bedrooms and walk-in closets, alongside other living space furnishings.

The store displays storage and furniture by renowned architects and designers, including Patricia Urquiola, Ron Gilad, and Rodolfo Dordoni. Each piece boasts unique designs and functionalities, yet they harmonize seamlessly under Molteni's guiding philosophy, creating an atmosphere of understated elegance. The space exudes a serene lifestyle, characteristic of Italy's appreciation for true quality.

Connecting the first and basement floors is a staircase that ascends through an atrium, framed by a dynamic "wooden wall." This decorative wooden lattice, inspired by the circular window of Kōmyō-in Temple in Kyoto, spans seven meters high and is set against a glass wall. This design, combined with the borrowed scenery of the adjacent garden, creates a serene ambiance. Descending from the bright, modern first floor, visitors are welcomed by the circular and lattice patterns of the rich cedar wood, guiding them into the more private atmosphere of the basement level.

In homage to Gio Ponti, the Italian design master whose iconic furniture Molteni has been reissuing, a movable glass partition, the "Gio Ponti Screen," featuring geometric motifs, has been designed. This screen, interpreted through Urquiola's sensibility, blends the essence of historic Italian modernism with Japanese elements, lending a light and airy feel to the space.



Founded in 1934 in the Brianza region north of Milan, Molteni is a leading Italian luxury furniture manufacturer. It is recognized for its exceptional craftsmanship and quality, earning the respect of architects and designers worldwide. The company's dedication to quality is evident in its signature system storage solutions, which invite close inspection.

The meticulous construction extends to the interior components, showcasing refined design. Patented mechanisms, developed in-house, ensure that doors and sliding panels operate with remarkable quietness, smoothness, and ease. This blend of aesthetic appeal and thoughtful functionality transforms the everyday act of storage into an elegant ritual.

We highly recommend visiting this space in Minami-Aoyama to experience the world of Molteni firsthand.

MOLTENI&C TOKYO
Opening Hours: 11:00–19:00
Closed: Wednesdays and Public Holidays
6-4-6 Minami-Aoyama, Almost Blue Bldg. B, 1F, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3400-3322
http://www.molteni.jp/

Patricia Urquiola on Molteni Tokyo

Drawn to Japanese Craftsmanship's Attention to Detail

“I’ve visited Japan many times, and I particularly love the Minami-Aoyama area. It’s not just because it’s home to cutting-edge fashion brands; I find it fascinating how a small shop sewing shirts might sit right next to a large boutique. It’s the coexistence of these contrasting realities that I find so interesting.

The location of Molteni Tokyo is exceptional. Despite being in the city, it’s adjacent to the lush greenery of the Nezu Museum's bamboo grove and gardens. Inspired by this, I chose the wooden wall, 'wooden wall,' as the main interior element. It’s based on the beautiful Japanese garden view from the circular window at Kōmyō-in Temple in Kyoto. I love how this wall connects the world of Molteni with the greenery of the Nezu Museum. It feels like the shop’s secret garden, doesn’t it?



The atrium wall is entirely glass, but the lower part of the basement level uses dark mirror glass. This choice obscures the view of the bustling city outside—cars and pedestrians—creating a sense of tranquility, as if one were in a quiet garden. Simultaneously, it acts as a boundary, a filter between the external environment of urban Japan and the internal Italian atmosphere of Molteni. The seven-meter-high wall also serves to visually connect the first and basement floors. I wanted to create an inviting impression, guiding customers from the first-floor entrance to explore the lower level.”

Urquiola first visited Japan over 20 years ago as a student, working on shop display projects. Since then, her fascination with Japanese culture has led her to return numerous times for various projects, including lectures, an exhibition in Kyoto, and an installation at the Spiral Hall in Aoyama.

“I’ve visited Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Sapporo… Each city has a distinct atmosphere, and I continue to discover the depth of Japanese culture. With every visit, I feel as though new elements of Japan integrate into my being. I appreciate the meticulous attention to detail in Japanese craftsmanship and culture.

For example, this paper cup I’m drinking tea from, made of washi paper, has a beautifully balanced Japanese design. Its texture is soft, and it feels gentle against the lips. In America, this might simply be a plastic cup. It’s not necessarily expensive, but there’s a commitment to using natural materials. This resonates with me, and I find much design inspiration in Japanese culture.”

Shaping Molteni's World in Japan

This interior design project began with a heartfelt invitation from Molteni to Urquiola. Giovanni Molteni, the production manager, stated that for their first flagship store in Japan, no one was better suited than Urquiola, given her love for Japan and understanding of its sensibilities. His request to her, with whom he shares a long-standing relationship, was to create "Molteni's world within Japan."

“When creating a Molteni store in Japan, I wanted it to be more than just a showcase for Italian lifestyle; I aimed to incorporate the emotional aspect of Japan. The wooden wall serves as a key element in expressing this. The wall's texture and the floor's color are based on Molteni's corporate color, anthracite gray, harmonizing with the cedar wood.

In this sense, it might resemble the color palette of traditional Japanese architecture. The caramel color used for the bedroom wardrobes and the staircase imparts a warm impression, and it's currently my favorite shade. Incidentally, Jasper Morrison attended the store's opening reception and mentioned, 'I'm using this same caramel color in a project I'm currently working on!' It was a delightful coincidence to be using the same color as a friend.”

In contrast to these Japanese elements, the "Gio Ponti Screen" partition wall incorporates a piece of Italian historical culture. This screen is the first of its kind to be used in a Molteni store and is slated for sequential rollout to Molteni stores worldwide.

Urquiola has masterfully woven various elements into the space to express the brand's identity. The store also features a curated selection of her past product designs, including storage units, tables, and chairs.

“My relationship with Molteni spans nearly two decades. I trust their development capabilities and technical expertise, which allows me to conceive many ideas for product design projects. For the 'Diamond' table, launched in 2004, the legs are formed by folding a one-millimeter-thick aluminum sheet. I presented my concept, inspired by origami, saying, 'I want to make this.' While the technology didn't exist then, through collaboration with Molteni, we were able to realize the product while preserving the philosophy of origami. This isn't something possible with every client. I believe every project is created with four hands, not two: two representing the designer's ideas, and two representing the client's technical skill and development capabilities. This synergy and mutual trust are essential.”

The store, a culmination of the long-standing trust between Molteni and Urquiola, offers an experience of Italian modernism subtly infused with Japanese sensibilities. It is a special place where visitors, even those encountering Molteni furniture for the first time, can feel the serene comfort of the lifestyle it cultivates.

MOLTENI&C TOKYO
Opening Hours: 11:00–19:00
Closed: Wednesdays and Public Holidays
6-4-6 Minami-Aoyama, Almost Blue Bldg. B, 1F, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3400-3322
http://www.molteni.jp/