Molteni&C Living Box: a building in miniature

A low and rectangular unit, with generous lengths ranging from 230 to 380 centimetres. But stopping here would be an understatement. This is because the whole philosophy of Vincent Van Duysen is contained in Living Box, who for Molteni&C has created a refined, functional and strategic piece of furniture, able to hide what must be hidden and reveal only what deserves to be seen.

A "one of a kind" piece of furniture, says its creator. A unit which due to its design, attention to detail and the materials used and worked by expert craftsmen is destined to become "the key element of any living room".

Living Box is a game of contrasts. First of all between the inside and outside, continuously in dialogue and in opposition to each other because there are no doors to visually separate the first from the second. The materials are different: wood for the inside; marble and different woods for the outside, characterized by a large support surface. To unite them, a frame in iris and pewter which seen from above has a thin thread-like profile, while from the front reveals a thickness of a completely different measure.

The interior is reminiscent of a "magical cave", with the intention to evoke a feeling of protection and warmth. It succeeds thanks to the LED light that delicately and softly illuminates it, and the two finishes in Eucalyptus or Sunrise Oak wood. The latter, in particular, is "a reinterpretation of a classic theme reinterpreted with contemporary taste, without excluding accents of warmth and softness to the touch". The expert cabinetmakers of Molteni&C are also able to enhance it further thanks to a particular non-uniform brushing technique.

In any self-respecting cave, especially if it is magical, there are many surprises: the drawers, which rest on the compartment and are free to occupy any position - or not to occupy them at all to leave empty spaces intended for other uses, that is to display objects and decorative accessories. "Small architectures within a larger enclosure", with the possibility to create different configurations.

But not everything, as we have stated, has to be shown. For this Living Box provides a series of measures to hide cables and connections to TV, multimedia and lighting systems. For the same reason, a technical Tape container for video- HIFI equipment is also available.

What began as a game of contrasts therefore becomes a perfectly successful combination of aesthetics and functionality, which is important, if not indeed necessary in every living room. Between refinement and strategy. Architecture, design and practicality.