Luxurious way of life model Montblanc means many issues to many individuals, with a lot overlap amongst its fervent followers. For some pen lovers, it gives the locus of their premium collections: a storied firm providing beautiful restricted editions inside outlined assortments, just like the Excessive Artistry or Writers Editions. For others, it’s a well-known German writing instrument firm with over a century of experience that gives good-looking pens for each day writing pleasure.
However at the beginning—and by its personal definition—Montblanc is a supply of inspiration, holding the prospect of the invention of oneself and the world by the efficiency of the handwritten phrase.
Montblanc Haus
Montblanc’s newest enterprise, Montblanc Haus, which formally opened its doorways simply final week, is a state-of-the-art testomony to the corporate’s dedication to writing. Located adjoining to its Hamburg headquarters, the museum is an interactive research of the numerous aspects of Montblanc’s 116-year historical past. And it invitations pen fanatics or the merely curious to change into a part of one thing larger—one thing integral to our humanity—because it appears to the successes of the previous whereas celebrating the promise of the long run.
“Each a part of the Haus breathes writing,” says Montblanc CEO Nicolas Baretzki, of the three-story, 3,600-square-meter constructing, engagingly constructed within the form of a Montblanc writing instrument field.
“We envisioned a particular residence for the artwork of writing, a spot the place individuals might uncover or rediscover the unbelievable energy of handwriting and the creativity, creativeness and emotion it unlocks in everybody,” he defined of the venture that was conceived about 5 years in the past.
The Haus options quite a lot of everlasting exhibitions, together with an in depth archive (visits by appointment), which might be the proper place for a pen devotee to spend a day—or a month—poring over historic pens, commercials, letters, and different fascinating curiosities from the previous.
“The Montblanc Haus has allowed us to uncover some treasures from our archive that we’re wanting to share with the world,” mentioned Vincent Montalescot, Govt Vice President of Advertising. He provides that this area is devoted to all of the unbelievable tales which have been written over time, together with these but to be written.
Different thematic galleries embrace an Autograph Library with 30 handwritten notes spanning time and expertise—from Ernest Hemingway to Spike Lee—the place guests can depart their very own mark by way of a digital guestbook. Glass show instances enshrine a wonderful collection of restricted editions and Excessive Artistry items within the Collections part, whereas Legacy and Imaginative and prescient tells the story of Montblanc by way of the emblematic Meisterstück. Artfully displayed pen fashions, collateral materials and extra reveal Montblanc’s trendsetting stylish and use of avant-garde promoting all through its historical past.
The ability of writing and creativity are evident all through, from the “handwriting on the wall” to a nook designed for guests to write down and ship postcards all around the world. Commissioned paintings demonstrating the indeniable affect of the pen embrace Studio Marianne Guély’s dramatic paper sculpture suspended contained in the dome of the constructing and Paris-based artist Wendy Andreu’s artwork customary from wool dyed with ink that greets guests upon their arrival. Even the neutral-walled inside of the Haus makes an announcement, performing as counterpoint to the museum’s darkish exterior to convey Montblanc’s signature colours of black and white.
Guests could avail themselves of a sequence of lessons, together with calligraphy and artistic writing, within the Writing Atelier, and clever alternatives for college kids and younger adults are on the calendar.
Vacation spot Hamburg
Montblanc Haus is accessible to the general public, close to and much, and with summer season journey proper across the nook, its opening is fortuitous. Reservations could also be made online.
Baretzki’s invitation is evident and honest: “It’s our hope that Montblanc Haus turns into a significant landmark for Hamburg, a metropolis that’s so vital to the historical past and id of Montblanc, and for native communities and faraway guests to find and revel in.”