Arper in London

The Italian furniture manufacturer has opened its new flagship store in London, a simple architectural unit constructed from different materials in shades of white.

After opening stores in Milan, Cologne, Stockholm and New York, Italian furniture manufacturer Arper has just opened its London showroom in Clerkenwell, which will become the company's new centerpiece in the heart of London's architecture and design district.

The showroom has been designed by 6A Architects, who focused on elegance and sensuality of form and avoided the superfluous. The space is a simple architectural unit constructed from different materials in shades of white, inserted into a concrete shell to make a singular backdrop for the furniture. Natural white plaster, bleached oak and enameled cast aluminum form a soft, finely crafted space open to the street on two sides. Finer details of the build — doors, ironmongery, skirtings — have been stripped back. The focus is on the relationship between space, light and furniture.

This space seeks to be more than a showroom — it is an Arper "experience" for architects, specifiers, designers and the public to learn more about the company and its ethos of open-ended and generous design. It has also been designed to be flexible, allowing it to play host to different types of events, through which Arper can communicate with its new London audience.

"London will be our flagship showroom across the world, more a brand embassy than simply a store. Clerkenwell is the perfect location for us as it has one of the highest concentrations of architectural and engineering companies in the world," said Claudio Feltrin, CEO of Arper. "And London is a dynamic hub of creativity, design and innovation, which has really inspired us."

From late October 2012, the showroom will showcase Arper's new collections of Saya and Juno chairs. It will also be home to Arper's classic designs, from the iconic Catifa chair through to the Pix collection.