Montblanc invites visitors to immerse themselves in the world of handwriting with the openiieng 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 Montblanc from its founding days to the present, of the women and men that craft Montblanc’s writing instruments and of those who have used them to share their imprint on humanity. Set across 3 levels and 3600sqm, 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 Sobejano Arquitectos and inspired by Montblanc’s heritage, the building concept is an homage to the historical shape of writing instrument packaging with the iconic colour combination of the Montblanc 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. It is our hope that Montblanc Haus becomes a meaningful landmark for Hamburg, a city that is so important to the history and identity of Montblanc, and for local communities and faraway visitors to discover and enjoy says Nicolas Baretzki, Montblanc CEO.
Under the banner of Montblanc’s brand purpose to Inspire Writing, the permanent exhibition at Montblanc Haus invites visitors to explore different themes:
The Pulse of Writing is an immersive experience that highlights the power and value of writing.
Montblanc’s Legacy and Vision tells the story of the Maison and its icon the Meisterstück.
Handwriting from around the World spotlights different types of handwriting translated into artwork.
Craftsmanship and Innovation showcases the know-how of the brand’s writing instrument creation and production.
Montblanc Collections explores different collections including Limited Editions and the exclusive High Artistry pieces
The Mark Making space is dedicated to visitors and to those who have left their mark, featuring an Autograph Library with 30 original handwritten notes from Ernest Hemmingway and Albert Einstein, to 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.
Throughout Montblanc Haus, visitors are invited to experience the wonder of writing by hand in a very personal way. They can test Montblanc writing instruments and send postcards with their thoughts around the globe. Montblanc Haus offers a series of classes in its Writing Atelier to visitors including the art of calligraphy, creative writing and kids classes. Furthermore, 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 Montblanc Haus. The work of Paris-based artist Wendy Andreu is the first thing visitors encounter, art from wool coloured 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, Montblanc Haus welcomes visitors to enjoy temporary exhibits, the Montblanc Archives (by special arrangement), a café as well as a boutique that features exclusive Montblanc Haus products.
Montblanc Haus opens on May 10th, 2022 in Hamburg. For more information visit www.montblanc.com