Montblanc Haus, built to inspire writing
Montblanc invites visitors to immerse themselves in the world of handwriting with the opening of a new permanent experience in Hamburg, chronicling the role Montblanc has played in inspiring generations of thinkers and dreamers to leave their mark
Montblanc opens the doors to Montblanc Haus, a destination that tells the story of the brand from its founding days to the present, of the women and men that craft its writing instruments and of those who have used them to share their imprint on humanity.
Set across three levels and 3,600 square meters, the immersive brand experience brings to life Montblanc’s belief in the value of writing and the ways in which it helps people express their full potential and ultimately leave their mark on the world.
Montblanc Haus is located at the very heart of Montblanc, right next to its headquarters and the manufacture where its writing instruments, including the iconic Meisterstück, are crafted. Designed by Nieto Sobejanos Arquitectos, the building concept is an homage to the historical shape of writing instrument packaging with the iconic color combination of the brand evident in the building’s dark silhouette with shades of white on the inside.
“We envisioned to create a special home for the art of writing, a place where people could discover or rediscover the incredible power of handwriting and the creativity, imagination, and emotion it unlocks in everyone. Montblanc Haus was conceived as a journey of discovery, told through the eyes of a company that has been at the heart of the culture of writing for over 115 years,” says Nicolas Baretzki, Montblanc CEO.
Under the banner of the brand’s purpose to inspire writing, the permanent exhibition invites visitors to explore the many different themes, such as the “Pulse of Writing,” an immersive experience that highlights the power and value of writing, and “Legacy and Vision,” which tells the story of the maison and its icon the Meisterstück. “Handwriting from around the World” spotlights different types of handwriting translated into artwork while “Craftsmanship and Innovation” showcases the know-how of the brand’s writing instrument creation and production. Also among the themes are “Montblanc Collections,” which explores different collections, including Limited Editions and the exclusive High Artistry pieces, and the “Mark Making” space, which is dedicated to visitors and to those who have left their mark, featuring an Autograph Library with 30 original handwritten notes from luminaries like Ernest Hemmingway, Albert Einstein, Frida Kahlo, and Spike Lee combined with a digital guestbook experience for visitors to leave their own mark.
“The Montblanc Haus has allowed us to uncover some treasures from our archive that we are eager to share with the world. This experience is not only dedicated to all the incredible stories that have been written over time, including our very own, but to all the great stories that are yet to be written, as we invite our visitors to be inspired to leave their mark,” adds Vincent Montalescot, Montblanc EVP marketing.
We envisioned to create a special home for the art of writing, a place where people could discover or rediscover the incredible power of handwriting and the creativity, imagination, and emotion it unlocks in everyone.
Throughout Montblanc Haus, visitors are invited to experience the wonder of writing by hand in a very personal way. They can test the writing instruments and send postcards with their thoughts around the globe. It also offers a series of classes in its Writing Atelier to visitors, including the art of calligraphy, creative writing and kids classes. As part of its commitment to the culture of writing, Montblanc will host special classes dedicated to disadvantaged children and young adults to inspire them to use writing to their advantage, to express themselves creatively.
The artistry that comes with handwriting as a means of self-expression comes to life in the works of art commissioned for the house. The work of Paris-based artist Wendy Andreu is the first thing visitors encounter, art from wool colored with ink and filled with surprising details that reveal themselves with every look: words, waves, the shape of mountains. For Studio Marianne Guély, paper is an unlimited source of inspiration used as the signature material for its creations, one of which is suspended inside the dome of Montblanc Haus.
In addition to the permanent exhibition, there are temporary exhibits, the Montblanc Archives (by special arrangement), a café as well as a boutique that features exclusive products.
Montblanc is available at Rustans Makati, Rustans Shangri-La, Rustan’s Cebu, Greenbelt 5, City of Dreams, and Resorts World. www.montblanc.com
Photos by Franziska Krug