The Lema furniture brand is opening its first company-owned flagship store in London this spring on Kings Road. The store, which is due to open in May, will cover 400 square metres over two floors, each encompassing Lema's two brands, Lema Casa (on the ground floor) and Lema Contract (on the basement floor). It will be designed in a chic, relaxed Mediterranean style by architect Piero Lissoni, with the aim of the design to boost the brand's recognisability and expand their role “For important projects at an international level,” according to Lema's marketing and export director, Mauro Marella. The style will “Define the company's character,” and hopefully spark a significant amount of interest in the luxury Italian brand.
The Lema furniture brand is opening its first company-owned flagship store in London
The London store has seen Lissoni's involvement as both architect and art director, a role he has held at Lema for more than 20 years. The company specialises in high quality, design-led furniture with precision construction and a timeless, understated design aesthetic, something that Lissoni hopes to reflect in the design of the new flagship store. The ground floor will house the Lema Casa range, which is based on the company's philosophy of “Slow living.” These are pieces for the home and feature products from international designers such as Gordon Guillaumier, Francesco Rota, Neri & Hu, Raw Edges, Nendo, Werner Aisslinger, and Christopher Pillet. The brand's iconic modular systems will be taking pride of place on the ground floor, alongside it's extensive range of unique free-standing furniture. According to Marella, there is a common thread tying the Lema Casa products together, and that is “Comfort.” She says “The key words are welcoming, warmth, relaxing and conviviality, the aim is to offer a complete vision of the Lema house.”
The store will be designed in a chic, relaxed Mediterranean style by architect Piero Lissoni
Downstairs in the basement, Lema Contract will supply furniture to architects and interior designers, with a dedicated team on standby to develop bespoke solutions for large-scale projects such as apartment buildings, retail spaces and hospitality. Lema is a key presence in the contract market, with involvements in significant multi-apartment and hospitality projects, such as the London Bulgari Knightsbridge Hotel and other prestigious chains like Hilton and Kempinski. Lema products are also present in Cheyne Terrace, Fulham Reach, Neo Bankside and Park House developments, amongst many others. With the opening on the flagship store, the brand no doubt hopes to further expand their presence in the market, both in the UK and internationally.
“London is a crucial location on the international market right now” Angela Meronia
Lema was founded in 1970 by the Meroni family, who still run the brand to this day. Current president, Angela Meroni, said “London is a crucial location on the international market right now, with its concentration of key players (the contract market; the most influential architectural practices working around the world; property developers involved in major projects). She says their presence in London “Represents a strategic investment for the group, one that aims at increasing Lema’s partnerships on the international market and establishing the brand firmly on the international high-end furniture scene.”
