Minotti strengthens its presence in the Middle East with the inauguration of the new flagship store in Riyadh, in the heart of the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) – also known as “The Leaf” for its distinctive leaf-shaped design – one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing urban areas in the Saudi capital. With this opening, in collaboration with long-standing partner Gallery Design, Minotti reinforces its global development strategy, marking the region as a key hub for the diffusion of its lifestyle.
Designed by Minotti Studio, the new space is housed within a deconstructivist-inspired building that converses with the contemporary architectural language of KAFD, reaffirming the brand’s international and cosmopolitan identity. Spanning a total surface area of approximately 620 sqm, the flagship store is framed on three sides by large glass façades, offering passersby a glimpse into an immersive design experience.
The interior concept takes inspiration from the arch, reinterpreted in a contemporary key as a distinctive signature element. This archetypal form generates a dynamic rhythm suspended between memory and modernity, in harmony with tactile surfaces in open-pore white travertine, plaster, Wengé-stained oak, and limestone. The generous ceiling heights have allowed for the creation of a sophisticated architectural landscape articulated across multiple volumes, incorporating two open-air areas — one on the ground floor and the other on the upper level — which replicate the atmosphere of outdoor settings and become privileged viewpoints over the surrounding living spaces. The layout draws inspiration from both the Roman domus and the Arab house: two models which, though rooted in different cultures, share the centrality of an open-air patio, located at the heart of the home, around which daily life is organised. In this sense, the project brings the outdoors to the core of the showroom, transforming it into a contemplative perspective and reaffirming the visual and formal unity between interior and exterior spaces, where the outdoor collection stylistically engages with the brand’s indoor style.
The entrance, deliberately secluded, and the reception area, with its lowered mirrored ceiling, direct the gaze toward the first double-height living area, furnished with the Yves seating system by Hannes Peer. From here, one accesses another living area that acts as a threshold to two contrasting yet complementary settings: on one side, Horizonte, with its clean, geometric lines; on the other, Bézier, the new and first organic project by Marcio Kogan / Studio MK27, defined by softness and fluidity. A full-height travertine fireplace adorned with refined bas-reliefs rises as a sculptural and visual focal point, separating the two areas.
A semi-helical staircase in white plaster and Wengé oak, echoing the motif of the arch, finally leads to the mezzanine, where the showroom unfolds in its entirety. Here, two symmetrical areas — a meeting room and a master bedroom, the latter featuring the Supermoon bed by Giampiero Tagliaferri alongside a cosy lounge — are framed by large glass walls that offer shifting perspectives, granting visitors a multiplicity of viewpoints.
Inside the showroom, the exhibition path is enriched by works from Nisreen & Nermeen Abudail, Muhannad Shono, Nasser Al Salem, and Helidon Xhixha. The focal point of the space is “The Moon” by Helidon Xhixha: a reflective stainless-steel sphere that integrates organically within the staircase arch, the symbolic and architectural heart of the showroom. Here, the sculpture captures and multiplies light, transforming into a suspended celestial body — alive and ever-changing — that amplifies the centrality of the space and the dialogue between art and design.
‘With the Riyadh showroom we wanted to create a space that embodies our idea of design culture: a place where architecture, design and art converse with one another and with the surrounding context. It marks a significant step in our international journey, conceived to express Italian excellence through a contemporary and universal language,’ comments Susanna Minotti, Head of Interior Decoration at Minotti. The Minotti Riyadh flagship store positions itself as a new design destination, where the brand’s lifestyle merges with the spirit of its location. Here, in one of Saudi Arabia’s most forward-looking cities, Made in Italy savoir-faire comes to life, creating a truly unique sensorial experience
