How do you highlight the best of German design? Rent a landmark villa in Monaco, fill every room with German design excellence to create individual living spaces, then invite everyone to come and enjoy it, of course.
The Lenzwork Group opened a showroom in Monaco in 2021 with the idea of creating a living experience par excellence, where the crème de la crème of German design brands are able to showcase their iconic furniture, lighting and artwork.
The entire interior of Villa Nuvola, which is purposefully designed as a private residence, can be experienced and purchased. Highlights include the hand-knotted Jan Kath carpet from the legendary ‘Erased Heritage’ series, the unique gesture-controlled lamps by Occhio, as well as perennial living spaces by Walter Knoll.
“When we visited Monaco looking for a store location, we had a feeling that people were flying to London, Milan, or Paris to actually feel how a room can ‘breathe’ with the furniture that is on show, so this is what we wanted to bring to Monaco, then combine it with art,” Jasper Hannan, co-founder of Lenzwerk Monaco, tells Monaco Life.
Villa Nuvola was created by the renowned Parisian architect Jean-Pierre Lott as a pilot project for the neighbouring high-rise Le Stella. He has had a significant influence on Monaco’s skyline with numerous landmarks like Tour Simona, Les Cigognes and Ni Box. He is also behind the future Palais Honoria, and the hidden Villa Troglodyte, dug out of ancient rock.
Stretching over 800 m2, the villa showroom displays “The art of German design” and, in cooperation with leading German brands, LenzWerk Monaco establishes tailor-made concepts for interior design. This approach is complemented with selected pieces of furniture from its own LenzWerk manufactory.
“When people think of German design, they think of Bauhaus, which was a very popular minimalistic model for that time,” adds Jasper Hannan. “Many people still think of German design like that, but as you can see, it kind taken a different direction.”
On this particular evening, the design trio EOOS is celebrating 25 years of designing furniture pieces for Walter Knoll. The villa is filled with German designers and guests, making the showroom feel very much like a private home. As the champagne flows, Monte-Carlo SBM chefs hurry around the kitchen and a DJ plays from a desk on the ground floor.
“I want LenzWerk to be known as a place for art and interior design, as well as communication, where people can go for a nice event, meet the right people, and see different things in art and interior design,” adds Hannan. “This place should really live – because without the people of Monaco, it is just an empty space really.”
LenzWerk was created by Jasper’s mother Ursula Seeba-Hannan. Her philosophy is “Connected to tradition, facing the future”. Susann and Axel Meise, from Occhio, came onboard as investors to help establish the unique concept – a private showroom in the heart of the Principality that combines German design excellence under one roof, creating individual living spaces and transforming them into a way of life.
“For us, it’s a huge privilege as well as a commitment to offer our German design partners the elegant and one-of-a-kind ambience of the Villa Nuvola where to host exclusive events and jubilee festivities in the heart of the Principality of Monaco,” says Ursula Seeba-Hannan. “Using this private showroom as a special event location for German design excellence generates desire and joie de vivre. We are very proud to celebrate 25 years of EOOS for Walter Knoll in the Villa Nuvola. And this is just the beginning of a long success story.”
The Villa Nuvola showroom is open by appointment.
Click on the images below…
Top photo: Lounge area featuring furniture by Walter Knoll, lighting by Occhio, and artwork by Jan Kath, Galerie König © LenzWerk Monaco.
Photography Christoph Philadelphia. Gallery photos by Monaco Life and Christoph Philadelphia.
