An Informed and Dynamic Office Ecosystem

By Editorial Staff - 6 May 2026
Estel Group has participated in the project

The collaboration between Estel, an established Italian furniture manufacturer, and MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects stems from a shared vision of the contemporary office – and of work environments more broadly – as a dynamic ecosystem, and of design as a fundamental tool for improving everyday life. It is this alignment that led Estel to appoint MCA as art director and entrust the studio with the design of its new showroom in Thiene, unveiled in early 2026. More than an office or a display space, the project is conceived as an ecosystem of fluid, adaptable environments – open-plan areas, social spaces and co-working zones – that reflects the company’s identity and growth. Mario Cucinella imagines it as a space of cross-fertilization between design and industry, craftsmanship and innovation, where quality, curiosity and experimentation set the groundwork for what comes tomorrow. Every element is chosen and positioned within a system of continuous interaction – between people, light, form and movement. The result is a hybrid ecosystem, where digital technologies support remote work and respond to changing workplace habits.

At its core is the individual, and the right to work and live in spaces that support well-being and engage responsibly with their surrounds. “We conceived the showroom as a layered narrative”, explains Cucinella, “one that moves from the entrepreneurial story of the Stella family – intertwined with the work of leading architects who helped shape Italian design – to the products developed in recent years, from executive systems to more operational lines”.

Showroom Estel © Francesca Balasso, courtesy Estel Group

The new showroom marks the first step in MCA’s artistic direction, grounded in a shared commitment to rethinking work environments in response to the changing needs of people. It also introduces a renewed brand identity – developed by Zup Design – and a new product system: Dolomite, a coordinated collection of desks, shelving, meeting tables and furnishings for break areas. Conceived as a tribute to the Dolomites, the system was presented in full during Milan Design Week, following an initial preview at the showroom’s opening.

“We believe workplaces will play an increasingly central role in company strategy and must be designed to be attractive, responsible and responsive to the expectations of new generations and professionals”, says Alberto Stella, president of Estel Group. “It requires an informed reading of the changes shaping the world of work”.