Bitten by the bug

It was in Ettore Bugatti’s blood since the day he was born in 1881, neatly following destiny in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both of whom were masters of design, decoration, silversmithing, and furniture making. Ettore’s younger brother, Rembrandt Bugatti, added to the family legacy too, as an acclaimed bronze sculptor whose work today fetches millions at auctions. Surrounded by artisanship and creativity, Ettore expressed his visionary ideas and early fascination with mechanics using his hands from a young age, designing and building a motorised vehicle in his teens. He went on to work for the renowned De Dietrich car company in 1902, even before he was of legal age to sign a contract.

This kind of genius and pioneering spirit remains the embodiment of the Bugatti brand to this day, more than 140 years after the birth of the discerning Ettore and 115 years since the founding of the company in Alsace, France. Bugatti continues to exemplify luxury and magnificence, whether the famous EB-initialed badge adorns the latest hypercar or an armchair. Now the Molsheim Maison is once again creating milestones with the world’s first Bugatti Home boutique opening its doors at The Dubai Mall Zabeel. Refined over a century of storied heritage, the curated collection presented in the UAE includes some of the most coveted designs ever to bear the Bugatti name.

The decision to launch Bugatti Home’s first boutique in Dubai is a deliberate one. Known for its extravagant architecture, high-end real estate, and love for world-class design, Dubai is the perfect canvas for the introduction of the collection that comes soon after the unveiling of the Bugatti Residences, also in the Emirate. As Wiebke Ståhl, Managing Director of Bugatti International, notes, “Dubai is a key market in terms of design, with a booming real estate industry, daring architecture, and a deep understanding of the luxury lifestyle.”

With this move, the brand continues its expansion into fine living in a new chapter. Bugatti’s Home collection blends exquisite craftsmanship, automotive-inspired design, and luxurious materials, particularly when it comes to the latest 2024 catalog after its debut at Milan Design Week. The pieces of the new ‘24 collection—defined by a dynamic interplay of raw materials such as sandblasted aluminium, wood, and metallic lacquers—push the boundaries of home décor. At its world debut the collection was first introduced in a Milanese palatial lush garden within an installation inspired by Ettore Bugatti’s original Orangerie glasshouse in France.

At the heart of the collection is a clear homage to Bugatti’s automotive legacy. The “C-line,” a signature element of Bugatti’s hypercars, is reinterpreted into a sofa, dining table, and chairs, amongst other pieces, with fluid, aerodynamic lines that transform automotive design into an art form, extending into living spaces. As expected from a company defined by the latest technologies as well as aesthetics, the material experimentation in the collection is of note. European open-pore oak and glass introduce transparency and lightness, while metal elements and leather add strength and sophistication. One of the standout pieces, the TYPE_1 modular sofa, is a striking balance of elegance and raw power—the very qualities that have defined Bugatti since its inception.

Another centrepiece, the TYPE_4 dining table, captures the essence of structural engineering, with a glass top supported by uniquely bent aluminium legs revealing an open framework and the skilled craftsmanship on display. The chairs in turn are made of sleek and ultra-modern carbon fibre, hand-painted in liquid aluminium metal. The boldest step into the future of design in the collection is the TYPE_3 sofa, combining the 1970s with modern metallic accents and featuring deep folds reminiscent of vintage luxury, with a ‘Bugatti Blue’ metal tag detail.

Visitors to the boutique get an exclusive opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of Bugatti, where the boundaries between automotive artistry and interior design blur. Beyond the latest pieces on offer, the Bugatti Home boutique also features all the standouts from previous collections. They include the limited-edition Cobra Chair in blue and white, available in just 110 examples worldwide. Created to commemorate Bugatti’s 110th anniversary in 2019, the exquisite chair is inspired by Carlo Bugatti’s 1902 design depicting a cobra in a Moorish style made of wood and copper with Indian ink motifs. The contemporary version is in carbon fibre and finely embroidered Maine leather.

Then there’s the striking Noire armchair, a tribute to the legendary La Voiture Noire one-off $13 million hypercar, incorporating automotive themes such as Bugatti’s iconic horseshoe radiator grille and a streamlined dorsal fin. The Chiron chaise lounge features aerodynamic design forms, and the Le Mans sofa is distinguished by a sleek band running along the base of the frame. Lastly, the imposing Ettore Grand Bureau desk is a re-design of the classic desk, made possible by the extensive use of carbon fibre for the structure.

When it’s not creating masterpieces like the Bugatti Tourbillon hypercar, itself inspired by Haute-Couture living and featuring stunning details such as a 600-part titanium mechanical instrument cluster made by Swiss watchmakers, Bugatti is clearly on a mission to elevate luxury into an art form beyond mere function. A century from now, we will continue to admire Bugatti’s creations, whether they are presented on four wheels or four carbon fibre legs.