Enrico Raggi De Marini, flanked by Peter Sholy and Alfred Fuayad, speaking at the launch of the Poltrona Frau showroom at The Pearl-Qatar. PICTURE: Jayaram
Poltrona Frau Design Center, the country’s exclusive dealer of high-end furniture brands of the Poltrona Frau Group, has started its operations at The Pearl-Qatar.
In a strategic tie-up with the CDC, the Italian furniture group consisting of Poltrona Frau, Cassina and Cappellini has launched in the local market an array of premium luxury interior designs, which company officials yesterday said will help meet the growing requirements of residential, commercial and hospitality clients in Qatar.
At a recent briefing held in the presence of CDC general manager (business development) Peter Sholy, Poltona Frau Group Europe and Middle East Asia director Enrico Raggi De Marini said the new outlet - spread over 600sqm at La Croisette, The Pearl-Qatar - is the third store of the group in the GCC . The company’s other outlets in the region are located in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The Poltrona Frau Group official said they have operations at 65 places across the world, 23 of which are directly run by the Italian company.
De Marini said Qatar is one of the fastest-growing markets for quality furniture brands and its cosmopolitan population has demonstrated its preference for refined products over the years. He said the company’s annual turnover amounted to 247mn euros and it is expected to record substantial growth in the coming years.
“The Poltrona Frau Group has set the standard for high-quality Italian furniture. A perfect mixture of class, design comfort and durability makes us the brand of choice in the Qatari market, where we will address the future requirements without forgetting the culture of beauty and craftsmanship inherited from the past. The interior design industry in the country is growing at an amazing pace at this juncture, making it one of the region’s most attractive furniture and interior markets,” he said.
“Qatar is a rapidly growing country and its development is based on the criteria of quality and high lifestyle standards and taste. We are delighted to introduce interior design innovators such as the Poltrona Frau Group to the local market, another great addition to our several showrooms representing leading brands that reflect the company’s passion to deliver select premium products to our customers,” said Sholy.
The showroom at The Pearl -Qatar showcases classic and contemporary pieces of diverse styles from the century-old Poltrona Frau to the contemporary design icon brand Cassina and avant garde Cappellini.
Poltrona Frau is recognised as a leader in top-of-the-range furniture and as a true spokesman throughout the world for the values associated with the design and production of Italian-made goods, said the company officials.
Cassina is a brand that best represents Italian design in the world today based on its meticulous and direct control of the entire manufacturing cycle, which comprises highly-refined wood processing and high quality in product and delivery, they said.
Cappellini is an important brand in the high-end furnishing sector with its significant catalogue of innovative international designers and its production of pieces that embody great creativity, image and notoriety.
Visitors to the showroom will see how the three brands work together in synergy and complement each other to create elegant and sophisticated living environments. “They will also explore Poltrona Frau Group’s international icons, including the LC4 chaise-lounge by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand from Cassina, the Vanity Fair armchair from Poltrona Frau, Tom Dixon’s S-Chair and Alessandro’s Mendini Proust from Cappellini, as well as modern classics such as the Kennedee sofa collection.” said De Marini.
The brands have taken significant steps locally by working on projects for Qatar Foundation, QNB and Commercialbank. Showcasing the latest collections from Poltrona Frau’s three main brands, the showroom is an example of the group’s design philosophy, showcasing classic contemporary pieces, along with timeless icons, representing the elegance and perfection of Italian-made products.
CDC procurement manager Alfred Fuayad was also present.
