Since its founding in Hamburg in 1906, Montblanc has remained true to its craft—each writing instrument is still handmade here today. For many Hamburg residents, the original Montblanc House remains iconic: a striking brick complex in the Schanzenviertel district. In 1989, operations moved to Lurup, where last year the new Montblanc House unveiled a striking addition—an exhibition space entirely devoted to the art of writing.

Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos won the design competition in 2016. The building unfolds as a 100-meter-long structure that mirrors the elegant form of a writing instrument itself. Its main façade transforms the company's presence in the industrial district entirely. A black concrete relief runs the full length, articulated through layered depths that reference both the mountain range inspiring Montblanc's name and the gestural motion of a hand in writing. A generous open plaza, bordered by a verdant slope, shields the complex from surrounding traffic. Inside, a carefully orchestrated sequence of spaces reveals a three-level permanent exhibition organized around a skylit atrium. Across 3,600 m² of exhibition space, visitors discover the evolution of precision writing instruments and extraordinary treasures from the company archives—a 1770 autograph by Voltaire, original manuscripts from five Nobel laureates, and landmark correspondence. Open daily except Sundays, the space is augmented by guided tours, rotating exhibitions, and writing workshops designed to inspire. A café and Montblanc boutique complete the visitor experience.

www.nietosobejano.com
www.montblanc.com

Photography Credits:

Roland Halbe
www.rolandhalbe.eu

(Published in CUBE Hamburg 03|23)