Clay, Art and Minimalism in the New MATTEOBRIONI Flagship Space in Shanghai

The new MATTEOBRIONI monobrand showroom inside the luxurious CIMEN Decoration Materials Center in Shanghai exemplifies how architecture and design can merge to create unique and evocative spaces. Designed by architect Li Chengmo from UD Studio, the showroom fully utilizes MATTEOBRIONI’s clay finishes, creating an environment that not only reflects the brand’s sophisticated aesthetic but also its commitment to sustainability and environmental wellbeing.

The entrance lobby walls are coated with MB Terra Natural Evoca artistic plaster in LATTE (milk), Polvere (dust), and Sale Grigio (grey salt) colors, providing a visually engaging and warm welcome. The ceilings follow suit with a Sale Grigio finish, while the floors feature an innovative clay and resin two-component flooring, MB Terra Floor Smooth in Polvere color, enhanced with a tixotropic two-component epoxy treatment for durability.

The exhibition area distinguishes itself with the fine-grain clay finish MB Terra Natural Wabi in Pepe Nero (black pepper) color, applied in a wabi-sabi style that enhances simplicity and elegance. In the same area, walls and doors are treated with MB Terra Natural coarse-grain plaster, also in Pepe Nero, creating a tactile and visual texture contrast.

The flooring in the exhibition area is completed with MB Terra Floor Structured in Sale Grigio color, extending the visual and tactile continuity of clay throughout the space. The display also includes various panels in MB Terra Natural Smooth in colors such as Caffè (coffee), Cannella (cinnamon), Cipria (face powder), Fango (mud), Panna (cream), Senape (mustard), Vinaccia (light wine) e Zenzero (ginger), demonstrating the versatility and extensive range of finishes available.

Large “Arazzi” wall panels crafted with MB Terra Natural Evoca in Melograno (pomegranate) color and other materials like MB Seta Structured and MB Terra Natural Coarse in the same color adorn the walls, showing how MATTEOBRIONI’s finishes can be transformed into true art elements.

This showroom is not only a meeting point for design and architecture enthusiasts but also a testament to MATTEOBRIONI’s commitment to promoting sustainable, high-quality materials that reflect the Italian way of life, enhanced by the long-standing collaboration with GEECASA, the exclusive distributor for Shanghai who manages the space. This partnership emphasizes the bond between MATTEOBRIONI and its global partners, underscoring a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainability.

Photography: courtesy of GEECASA