World-Class Design in the Heart of Indonesia

World-Class Design in the Heart of Indonesia

By vira
11/11/2024

Rifyo, MillerKnoll’s Authorised Dealer, unveils gallery-style showroom in Indonesia Design District at PIK2.

The right partnership can be the lifeblood of an organisation—and this is proving to be the case once again as Rifyo launches a new lifestyle furniture showroom in Indonesia Design District, which showcases a wide range of designs from the MillerKnoll collective.

The synergy between Rifyo and MillerKnoll is rooted in shared values and a commitment to purposeful, progressive, and timeless design. A prominent furniture company in Indonesia, Rifyo was founded in 2012 by Robert and Fify Manan, but the brand’s history dated back to 1963, when the Manan family established a business crafting wooden furniture for the Indonesia market.

MillerKnoll and Rifyo teams at the opening of Rifyo Design Gallery, IDD PIK2

MillerKnoll, meanwhile, is the collective that formed in 2021 as a result of the merger between two global design greats––Herman Miller and Knoll––both of whom have spent decades pioneering modern design.

Indeed, Rifyo and Herman Miller have a long history of their own: the two companies have worked together to build Herman Miller’s presence in Indonesia since 2015, when Rifyo became Herman Miller’s authorised dealer in the region. Rifyo recently transitioned to being an authorised dealer for the whole MillerKnoll collective, along with Herman Miller.

This collaboration brings together Rifyo's deep understanding of the Indonesian market and MillerKnoll's global design expertise, creating a unique offering for discerning customers in the region.

The strong association between Rifyo and MillerKnoll continues with the launch of this new showroom in Indonesia Design District, which follows in the wake of Rifyo Design Quarter opening in May this year as a multi-storey hub for MillerKnoll’s brands.

Knoll lifestyle products in Rifyo Design Gallery

The new Design District showroom launched during Indonesia Design Week 2024 with an exclusive celebration of creativity and style that drew large crowds of architects, designers and industry professionals. For MillerKnoll, the event was the first of its kind in Southeast Asia: a rare, special occasion that warranted a remarkable evening of events and experiences.

As part of the festivities, guests were able to enjoy Discover Knoll, a glimpse into the history of the modern furniture brand founded by Hans Knoll and Florence Knoll in 1938. Presented by Alister Ng, Design & Specifier Manager at MillerKnoll, this story took guests at the launch party on a journey through the last 80 years of the brand’s history, from its renowned designers to the formation of MillerKnoll through its merger with Herman Miller.

Giving life to Knoll’s story was a display of the brand’s most well-loved pieces—designs that are as recognised today as they were 75 years ago, when they were first created. Among the pieces on display were items from the Barcelona Collection, designed by renowned architect and Bauhaus director Mies van der Rohe; Eero Saarinen’s enveloping Womb Chair; the Bertoia Diamond Chair, graceful and sculptural; Marcel Breuer’s deconstructed club chair, the Wassily Chair; and the much-coveted Tulip Chair, also by Eero Saarinen.

Bertoia Diamond Lounge Chair

Beginning with a traditional ceremony, the evening continued with delicious food, a DJ and more. Guests had their caricatures drawn by an expert illustrator. They also had the opportunity to win a Bertoia Side Chair: guests were tasked with drawing one of the iconic Knoll chairs on display to go in the running to win.

The showroom itself is a showcase of design possibilities, presenting classic pieces from Knoll and Herman Miller that have stood the test of time, along with cutting-edge contemporary creations that rethink form and function. This is a new chapter for Rifyo and MillerKnoll in Indonesia, and one that represents more than just a business expansion; it's a celebration of design's power to transform spaces and enhance lives.

Fify Manan, CEO of Rifyo Group, is full of enthusiasm for this next chapter with MillerKnoll. “Our partnership with MillerKnoll has gone from strength to strength thanks to our combined vision to give Indonesia access to high-quality global design and craftsmanship. This new showroom in Indonesia’s buzzing Design District feels like a very natural next step in our evolution together,” she says.

Adds Praveen Muppidi, “We are very grateful to have such a dedicated and passionate partner in Rifyo. We have many exciting plans to expand our capacity to support Southeast Asia, and Rifyo is a star player in our vision for the future in this region. We now have two world class showrooms with Rifyo, one in north Jakarta and one in south Jakarta, with a combined space of 24,900 square feet. It’s an unprecedented way for clients, architects and consultants to come and experience our brands.”

The doors to the Design District showroom are now open, and design enthusiasts, professionals, and curious visitors are invited to come and experience the best of MillerKnoll. All while supporting a local business with a strong legacy in Indonesian craftsmanship, and a vision for the future of design in the region.

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vira
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