One Year On: Molteni&C Melbourne Flagship Leads Australian Expansion.

As Molteni&C Melbourne flagship marks its first successful year on Church Street in Richmond, the Italian design powerhouse’s Australian story continues to evolve. The 500-square-metre space opened in October 2023 and has spent the past year introducing Melburnians to one of the first global implementations of Vincent Van Duysen’s revolutionary retail concept that embodies a ‘warm and fluid home.’

The flagship, nestled within the Industry Lanes development by Architectus, represents a new chapter that began after a successful 20-year partnership with Hub Furniture. Hub founder Jacqueline Foti-Lowe’s continued involvement has proven instrumental in translating the 90-year-old Italian brand’s vision for an Australian audience.

Van Duysen’s design philosophy has resonated strongly with the local market throughout the inaugural year. “I imagine a single storey house, in which you can feel in touch with the ground, with the outdoors,” explains Van Duysen. “Think of homes marked by transparency, organised with lightweight partitions and wide outward-looking verandas and terraces.”

This Yellowtrace Promotion is supported by Molteni&C. Like everything we do, our partner content is carefully curated to maintain the utmost relevance to our audience. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Yellowtrace.

DISCOVER MORE

Modern Transposition of the Roman Domus: Molteni&C Collection Unveiled at Salone del Mobile.

Under the creative direction of Vincent Van Duysen, the exhibit narrated the connection between indoor and outdoor, and creating a link between intimacy and sharing within private and public space.

This vision materialises through a rich material palette of travertine, rendered walls, and natural oak. Soaring ceilings and thoughtfully arranged partition walls create distinct yet interconnected zones. At the same time, a glorious central public courtyard bathes the space in natural light—a perfect embodiment of Walter Gropius’ idea of ‘opening walls like drapes to invite fresh air, light, and sunshine.’

Building on Melbourne’s success, Molteni&C has announced a second Australian flagship set to open in Sydney’s Surry Hills in early 2025. These stores introduce Australian audiences to a distinctly European retail experience, where furniture becomes an integral part of the architecture, creating a cohesive dialogue between structural elements and mobile pieces.

The Melbourne space continues to showcase an impressive collection of Molteni&C’s signature pieces, from Vincent Van Duysen’s Paul sofa to iconic Heritage Collection pieces by Gio Ponti. Three distinct kitchen displays, including the striking Ratio kitchen in black basalt rock and the Tivali 2.0 by Yabu Pushelberg in titanium travertine, demonstrate the brand’s versatility in contemporary living solutions.

This continuing expansion marks a pivotal moment in Australian design retail, as Molteni&C’s sophisticated spaces unite architecture and furniture to create authentic residential experiences across the country.

DISCOVER MORE

From Caracas to Compasso d'Oro: Gio Ponti’s D.154.2 Armchair's Extraordinary Journey.

Gio Ponti's iconic D.154.2 armchair has been awarded the prestigious Compasso d'Oro Career Award, cementing its place in Italian design history.

[Images courtesy of Molteni&C. Photography by Timothy Kaye.]