Italian furniture manufacturer Cassina has recently opened its first United Kingdom showroom, in the heart of the Brompton Design District, London. The showroom, designed by architect Piero Lissoni, aims to become a meeting place and must-visit destination for all those interested in contemporary design.

Located in a historic building, Lissoni's showroom reveals the concealed architectural overlaps created over the years, adding a new surface that seeks to emulate the deep grey tones of London's skyline. "The showroom is really beautiful," says Piero Lissoni, "a perfect London interior, without antics or puns and most of all very cosmopolitan".

Cassina's "industrial soul" is reflected in the interior, where Franco Albini lamps descend from the ceiling hanging from crimson-red fabric cables, above a prominent grey, solid oak staircase that unites the two floors. Original brickwork is painted in a warm grey tone, and a selection of lighting reminiscent of post-industrial factories enhances the oak flooring in the basement and the beauty of the matt cement of the ground floor. A large aviary-style wire cage at the entrance of the showroom acts as a meeting space, and can be used also for exhibitions.