What began in 1948 as Alberto Minotti’s modest upholstery workshop has grown into one of the most recognisable names in contemporary design. The identity has been steered with a steady hand by Renato and Roberto Minotti, supported by the artistic helm long held by architect Rodolfo Dordoni. At the heart of Minotti’s design philosophy is a balance between the left brain’s logic and the right brain’s creativity. It is an approach evident in furniture pieces with millimetre precision to suit spaces of any scale, paired with tactile richness – supple leathers, soft fabrics, and the natural materials that give spaces their soul.
The brand has become a cultural marker as much as a design house, influencing how homes, hotels, and flagship spaces are conceived worldwide. From Milan to Dubai and Miami, here is a selection of projects that embody Minotti’s design legacy.
Notable International Projects & Collaborations
Los Angeles – Lawlen Drive Residence (Residential, 2010)
This private hilltop home on Lawlen Drive in Los Angeles, California, was designed by renowned architect Paul McLean. The 2010 project’s interiors were coordinated by Minotti Los Angeles, which curated sophisticated furnishings to complement McLean’s sleek modernist architecture. Expansive floor-to-ceiling glass doors open the living areas to an infinity pool terrace, flooding the interior with natural light and blurring indoor-outdoor boundaries. Minotti’s pieces feature prominently – for example, Klimt sofas and Suitcase armchairs anchor the main salon, providing elegant comfort in harmony with the home’s minimalist lines. In the dining area and bedrooms, additional Minotti furniture (such as the Van Dyck dining table and Bartlett bed) continues the theme of understated luxury, making this residence a benchmark of West Coast modern design infused with Italian refinement.
Hamburg – Elbphilharmonie Tower Apartment (Residential, 2015)
In Hamburg, Germany, Minotti contributed to the iconic Elbphilharmonie complex, a mixed-use architectural landmark by Herzog & de Meuron that opened in 2017. The upper floors of this harborside marvel house 45 luxury residences with sweeping views of the Elbe River and city skyline. Interior designer Kate Hume was commissioned to outfit a 400 m² model apartment on the 18th floor (completed 2015), infusing it with “sophisticated elegance” through Minotti’s furnishings. The living room features Minotti’s Seymour seating system – noted for its curved lines and enveloping forms – which softens the apartment’s modern architecture and echoes the building’s avant-garde geometry.
Warsaw – Złota 44 Luxury Apartment (Residential, 2013)
Another high-profile collaboration is found in Warsaw, Poland, at the Złota 44 skyscraper. This striking 192-metre residential tower was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. In 2013, a showcase apartment in this Libeskind-designed building was outfitted by local interior firm IDEA MM in partnership with Minotti Studio, melding Polish design expertise with Minotti’s Italian sensibilities. The apartment’s light-filled living area offers panoramic city views through its glass curtain walls, and the lounge has been furnished with a composition of Leonard sofas and Aston armchairs (upholstered in plush grey velvet), accompanied by sculptural Minotti coffee tables (Elliott, Benson, Joy, and Brisley). Warmth and texture are added via Minotti’s Dibbets rugs in tonal greys, while in the dining area, a Toulouse table is paired with York chairs, and the bedrooms are appointed with Minotti’s elegant Yang and Reeves beds.
The Maldives – “The Muraka” Undersea Villa (Hospitality, 2018)
Minotti’s influence that extends into hospitality was represented by The Muraka at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. It is the world’s first undersea residence, completed in 2018. This architectural marvel, whose name means “coral,” is a bi-level villa spanning above and below the Indian Ocean. It features a luxury two-bedroom, living pavilion at sea level with a master suite submerged 5 metres underwater. Designed by Ahmed Saleem (with Yuji Yamazaki as collaborator), The Muraka presented challenges to create a serene, elegant atmosphere in an extreme environment. In the above-water great room, expansive floor-to-ceiling windows reveal 180° ocean panoramas, where two Powell sofa compositions, Quinn armchairs, and Cernobbio coffee tables form a plush contemporary lounge. Down below, the submerged bedroom’s adjoining lounge features a pair of Portofino armchairs and a Benson side table for guests to enjoy the mesmerising marine views in comfort. Outdoor decks are also outfitted with Minotti’s weather-resistant designs (such as a large Florida modular sofa for open-air relaxation), ensuring a seamless luxury experience.
Mykonos – 5-Star Beach Resort Hotel (Hospitality, 2017)
On the island of Mykonos, Greece, Minotti partnered on the interiors of a new five-star boutique hotel near Psarou Beach, designed by Fivos Architecture and Interior Design Studio. The hotel’s design, conceived as a tranquil refuge from Mykonos’s vibrant social scene, beautifully balances two influences – it reflects the island’s chic, cosmopolitan Greek style while subtly incorporating serene Asian-inspired accents. A palette of soft earth-tones, along with hemp cord, microcement, marble, and wood, prevails to lend the design a warm accent. Fivos Design Studio selected a wide array of Minotti furnishings for both the interior and exterior spaces to create indoor-outdoor harmony. In airy guest suites and lobby areas, Minotti’s Freeman modular seating (upholstered in muted pastels) provides inviting comfort, while private terraces and open-air lounges feature the Aston Cord outdoor armchairs, alongside Rivera sofas and coordinated Minotti coffee tables. These pieces withstand the seaside climate while maintaining sophisticated style.
Iconic Projects in Dubai
Regional Highlights
Dubai has become a key destination for Minotti’s contemporary design, home to a portfolio that ranges from private residences to experiential retail and curated installations.
The Index Tower Penthouse in DIFC has been given a new lease of life by turning a 1,300 m² triplex into a museum-like residence for an art collector. Designed by Studio M under Abboud Malak, it pairs gallery-white walls and ebonised oak panels with Minotti furnishings such as the Donovan sectional and Duchamp coffee table, for a balance between architectural creativity and liveable comfort.
The Minotti Flagship Store in Jumeirah, opened in 2024, is the brand’s first in the Middle East. It spans two levels and is conceived as a villa-style experiential space, featuring a grand lobby, open-plan living and dining zones, a steel-columned atrium, and an indoor winter garden. With moka-oak wall panelling and silver travertine finishes establishing the mood throughout, the flagship’s upper level takes its cue from an elegant private residence, complete with a bedroom suite and consultation rooms.
In the Emerald Villa in Emirates Hills, Minotti’s role was prominent in ultra-luxury private living. Its interiors combine Minotti furnishings with marble, glass, and emerald-accented details, striking a chord between lush naturalism and modern elegance in one of Dubai’s most prestigious communities.
On Palm Jumeirah, the Palm Light Apartment adopts a Japandi-inspired aesthetic, blending minimalist lines and natural tones with Minotti’s contemporary furniture to create a calm beachfront retreat.
Minotti has also made its mark at Downtown Design Dubai with installations such as the “Waves Resort” pavilion, created to showcase its design philosophy to the regional market. This virtual concept framed the 2019 collection within an immersive, resort-style setting that created an entire hospitality experience inside the exhibition hall.
Key Takeaway
Minotti’s portfolio spans museum-like penthouses, serene Japandi-style beachfront retreats, and immersive design pavilions in various cities around the world. Minotti pieces now grace interiors in over 70 countries, a living proof that good design travels well, guided by Minotti’s ‘system of elements’ philosophy, where each piece slots together like clockwork.
