The Libreria Internazionale Luxemburg has reopened in Turin, Italy, taking up residence in its new home at the heart of the Galleria Subalpina. This move is more than a mere change of address – it’s a true rebirth, brought to life by Mutina in collaboration with the Turin-based architecture firm BRH+, helmed by Barbara Brondi and Marco Rainò.
Founded in 1872 as Libreria Beuf, Luxembourg has long been a beacon of culture and curiosity, evolving over the centuries with an enduring spirit of innovation. Now housed in a space spanning three units and totaling 216 square meters, the bookstore embarks on a new chapter in its storied history. Mutina, known for its distinctive approach to ceramics, proved the perfect partner for this transformation, where surfaces are reimagined as pages to be read and experienced. The architectural project by BRH+ creates a harmonious dialogue between memory and modernity, with Mutina’s ceramic surfaces taking center stage in a story told through textures, colors, and geometry.
The central café counter – the beating heart of the space – is clad in the Rombini collection by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. This design choice invites conversation and conviviality, evoking the warmth and intimacy of a home kitchen. Meanwhile, the walls and floors feature the refined minimalism of the Fringe collection by Cypriot designer Michael Anastassiades, creating an immersive, sensory experience with every step.
Above the checkout area, the ceiling is adorned with Ronan Bouroullec’s Adagio, a tribute to modular art and the transformative power of design. Like a suspended sky, it invites visitors to lift their gaze. Recently added to the permanent collection of the Centre Pompidou, Adagio seamlessly blends avant-garde innovation with tradition, speaking in a universal language of rhythm and harmony.
Even the most private spaces, like the bathrooms, are transformed into showcases of design. Nathalie Du Pasquier’s Fringe and Mattonelle Margherita collections turn these intimate spaces into expressions of aesthetic philosophy, demonstrating that no corner is too small for design excellence.
The collaboration between Mutina and the Libreria Luxemburg is more than a design project; it’s a declaration of intent – a cultural manifesto where art, literature, and innovation converge.
A special chapter of this story is written through Mutina Editions. Created by select designers and artists, these ceramic objects are sculptural pieces that embody research and passion. Displayed in the bookstore’s windows and throughout its interiors, the Editions transform design into a tangible, everyday experience.
The bookstore also features MUTs – small, exquisite books that accompany the exhibitions of the non-profit project Mutina for Art. Curated by Sarah Cosulich, these volumes are treasure troves of thought and vision, blending critical texts, images, and interviews in a continuous dialogue between art and design.
The collaboration between Mutina and the Libreria Luxemburg is more than a design project; it’s a declaration of intent – a cultural manifesto where art, literature, and innovation converge. Every surface and detail invites visitors to reconsider the relationship between space and meaning. With this reinvention of the Libreria Luxemburg, Turin gains more than a bookstore – it earns a place where the past and future converse with the present.
