Montblanc Haus - Hamburg
Few days ago, I visited the new Montblanc Haus. Open last May, the new building is right next the headquarters and single production site of the prestigious brand*.
Set across 3 levels and 3,600 sqm, 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 invites visitors to immerse themselves in the world of handwriting with the opening of a new permanent experience in Hamburg chronicling the role the brand has played in inspiring generations of thinkers and dreamers to leave their mark.
The new destination 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.
Designed by Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos and inspired by the maison’s heritage, the Montblanc Haus 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.
It 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 (here featured is the Montblanc’s Legacy and Vision room that tells the story of the Maison and its icon, the Meisterstück).
“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”
A Place Built to Inspire Writing
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.
Craftsmanship and Innovation showcases the know-how of the brand’s writing instrument creation and production. 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 Collections explores different collections including Limited Editions and the 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 Hemingway and Albert Einstein, to Frida Kahlo to Spike Lee combined with a digital guestbook experience for visitors to leave their own mark.
Montblanc Haus offers a series of classes in its ‘Writing Atelier’ to visitors including the art of calligraphy, creative writing and kids classes. 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, visitors can also enjoy temporary exhibits, the Montblanc Archives (by special arrangement), a café as well as a boutique that features exclusive Montblanc Haus products.
*Note: This is not a paid partnership.
