In 2024, Molteni&C celebrates 90 years of innovation, design, industry, and corporate culture with a book titled "Molteni Mondo. An Italian Design Story". This book is the first monograph dedicated to the company's identity, history, and values. Founded in Giussano in 1934 by Angelo and Giuseppina Molteni, Molteni&C has become synonymous with Italian design excellence.
The object-book, inspired by cinema, opens with the set of the Compound in Brianza and closes with the legacy of the legendary architect Gio Ponti and his archives. Curated by Spencer Bailey, co-founder and director of The Slowdown, with art direction by Beda Achermann (creative director of L'Uomo Vogue Germany), the book features cinematic photography by Californian photographer Jeff Burton.
"Molteni Mondo" connects words and images, actions and projects, bringing together architects, designers, and artists. It delves into raw materials, human capital, sustainability, digital innovation, and social responsibility—always driven by an obsession with Quality.
Carlo Molteni, President of the Molteni Group, reflects, "In 2024, our company celebrates its ninetieth year of activity. Studying its history, we realized that it coincides with the history of Italian design."
As a company, Molteni&C has continuously engaged with global markets and innovative design, expanding internationally to over 100 countries with a consolidated turnover of €475 million in 2023, 70% of which is from international markets.
The book
"Molteni Mondo. An Italian Design Story" is a comprehensive volume published by Rizzoli New York, tracing the identity, history, and relationships of the company, which is now a global leader in high-end furniture. The book invites international artists and curators to reflect on the company's past, present, and future in a cinematic narrative style.
Key contributors include photographer Jeff Burton, writer Spencer Bailey, and Jean Nouvel who writes the foreword. The book highlights collaborations with iconic designers such as Vincent Van Duysen, Jacques Herzog, and Patricia Urquiola, exploring the company's role in shaping contemporary design through significant collections, prototypes, and projects worldwide.
Through exclusive images and engaging texts, the book touches on everything from the Compound in Brianza to the company's flagship stores, contract projects, museum, and much more. The book includes a special insert on the Gio Ponti Collection, detailing the rich heritage of Molteni&C and its ongoing influence in the world of design.
The Molteni Compound
The Molteni Compound serves as both a physical and virtual hub for Molteni&C, representing the company's multifaceted engagement with design—spanning historical, cultural, design, production, and commercial aspects. Located in Giussano, the Compound includes showrooms, offices, and production areas, along with the Molteni Pavilion, a multifunctional space designed by Vincent Van Duysen.
The QallaM installation, created by Patricia Urquiola, is a multimedia knowledge hub that showcases films and videos related to design and technology. It has garnered significant accolades, including the Premio dell'Innovazione della Presidenza della Repubblica and Menzione d'Onore del Compasso d'Oro.
The Molteni Archive holds key company documents, products, and machinery, preserving the company's legacy while informing its future direction. This archive serves as a cultural resource, ensuring the continuity of Molteni&C's values and innovations.
Molteni Museum
The Molteni Museum, located at the Molteni Compound, has recently undergone a redesign under the curatorship of Ron Gilad. The permanent exhibition, titled "FROM THE COLLECTION / in dialogue," presents iconic pieces from Molteni&C, UniFor, and Citterio, reflecting the evolution of the company over 90 years.
This newly organised exhibition combines historical and contemporary design through a dynamic display of products, prototypes, and archival materials. The museum highlights the collaboration of Italian and international designers, including Luca Meda, Aldo Rossi, Jean Nouvel, and Gio Ponti, among others.
The museum's heart is a timeline tracing Molteni&C's history, from its artisanal roots to its present status as a leader in industrial design. The museum continues to evolve with rotating exhibitions that cover a wide range of topics from design to architecture and photography.
Quality in numbers
As of 2023, the Molteni Group's production facilities remain based in Giussano, Italy, with a network of five production sites and four research & development centres. The company invests 5% of turnover annually in research and development to maintain its leadership in design and innovation.
More information:
Molteni&C
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www.moltenigroup.com