Mutina
Mutina is a minimalist space located in Jiaxing, China, designed by Moye Design. Light filters through a 9-meter glass curtain wall, casting ever-shifting patterns across raw concrete surfaces. This interplay of shadow and illumination is no mere aesthetic choice – it’s the animating principle of Mutina’s first independent showroom in China, where Moye Design has reimagined the ceramic tile showroom as a living gallery of material poetry.
The conventional wisdom about ceramic tile retail spaces tends toward the utilitarian: grids of samples, harsh lighting, and an emphasis on technical specifications. But here, in this thoughtfully renovated space in Jiaxing, we encounter something altogether different. Ceramic pieces float on delicate hanging wires like paintings in a museum, inviting contemplation rather than mere selection. This curatorial approach reflects Mutina’s founding philosophy of challenging preconceptions about ceramic materials and their application in contemporary design.
The showroom’s materiality speaks to a deeper truth about contemporary design practice – the growing dissolution of boundaries between art, architecture, and industrial design. Raw concrete columns stand proudly unadorned, their natural patina developing over time, while carefully detailed joints and rhythmic linear elements demonstrate an almost obsessive attention to craft. As one designer noted, these ceramic elements become “the second skin of space,” transforming from mere surface covering to integral architectural elements.
Perhaps most striking is how the space manipulates topography to create a journey. A subtle play of level changes guides visitors from the urban cacophony outside to an interior realm of contemplative calm. This transition is marked by a reflecting pool and viewing platform – a contemporary interpretation of traditional Chinese garden design principles that creates moments of pause and reflection.
The showroom’s innovative display strategy emerges from a deep understanding of how contemporary consumers engage with materials. Rather than overwhelming visitors with options, the space allows products to reveal themselves gradually through careful curation and thoughtful placement. Celosia, one of Mutina’s signature collections, serves as a guide, its perforated surfaces filtering light and leading visitors deeper into the space.
In its rejection of conventional showroom typology, this project points to a future where retail spaces might function more as cultural institutions than mere points of sale. It’s a bold proposition, but one that feels particularly relevant as we reconsider the role of physical retail in an increasingly digital world. The success of this space suggests that by elevating the presentation of industrial materials to the level of art, we might create more meaningful connections between products and their ultimate users.