- Project: LAU
- Architect: Raimer Büro
- Location: Russia, Moscow
- Year: 2025
- Area: 46 m2
- Photography: Dmitry Suvorov
In the vibrant core of the city, LAU—the flagship showroom of its namesake furniture brand—emerges as a 46-square-meter space that redefines the showroom concept. Designed by Raimer Büro, this architectural gem doesn’t strive to impress loudly; instead, it invites introspection. It’s a spatial whisper, one that speaks only when you’re willing to listen.
Minimalism With Meaning
Rather than following traditional showroom tropes, LAU rejects the transactional. It transcends functionality to become a state of being. The architectural layout is guided by a strict central axis, introducing symmetry and stillness, forming what the designers describe as “a stage for silence.” There are no visual distractions here—only rhythm, logic, and material honesty.
As chief architect Raimer K.O. states, “Tactility is not about comfort, it’s about connection.” And that ethos permeates every element within.
A Palette of Depth: Orange and Black
The showroom’s expressive materiality is grounded in two profound tones: orange and black. These are not decorative choices, but philosophical ones. Orange symbolizes warmth and vitality; black signifies depth and resonance. Together, they form a poetic balance—calm and impulse, breath and heartbeat.
This dichotomy mirrors the simplicity and depth found in Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, which served as inspiration for the space.
Dialogue Through Design
The space is the result of months of collaborative iteration—between the architecture team and the brand, between human intuition and material resistance. Every surface has been tested, rejected, or refined through dialogue, not trend.
The designers refused to submit to mere styling. Instead, they focused on creating a living interior—a space responsive to light, time, and presence.
Monumental Centerpiece: The Island and Bar
At the heart of LAU lies a sculptural monolith of natural stone—a meeting point, workspace, and installation all in one. Next to it stands a square bar crafted from poplar. Far from decorative, these elements are structural and symbolic: a manifesto in mass.
Open shelving along the sides adds visual rhythm, dissolving the walls and adding architectural depth. These pieces don’t hide anything—instead, they elevate routine rituals to design gestures.
Tactility as Philosophy
Materials were chosen not for trend or tone but for character. Felt, stone, wood, and steel create a rich interplay of surfaces that invite touch and awareness. Here, tactility doesn’t seek to soothe—it seeks to connect.
The showroom’s surfaces were designed to foster emotional and physical presence, making the tactile experience an essential part of its architectural language.
Light as a Co-Author
Lighting at LAU is far more than a practical necessity—it’s an emotional collaborator. Soft ambient lighting sculpts the interior, giving it a cinematic intimacy. A lounge area, clad in stainless steel, reflects and diffuses the glow like sunlight dancing across water.
At the end of the hall, a sculptural metal chair gleams beneath subtle lighting, evoking the brilliance of a sunlit cliff. Nearby, a black leather lounge chair subtly references Mies van der Rohe—a respectful nod to modernist mastery.
A Silent Manifesto
LAU is not merely a showroom. It is a carefully composed spatial manifesto—a place where materials breathe, light composes, and silence becomes a presence. It is a room that doesn’t demand attention but rewards those who give it.
By stripping away the unnecessary, Raimer Büro has created a space that resonates on a different frequency—one that doesn’t need words. Here, form becomes a vessel for silence, and silence becomes the ultimate luxury.
