In a little known corner of Moscow, just of Stretenka Street [which shares a name with
Stretenka Design Week; the little brother to
Moscow Design Week], is a shop/cafe/lounge called
Designboom. Trawling out the best of Russian design inevitably led me to this place, and on first visit I was a little underwhelmed.
A credible smattering of European designer classics and smaller Russian pieces on the ground floor was only a front to the veritable Aladdin's Cave on the lower floor [and very easy to miss; as I did until a second visit was propmpted].
If there was ever any doubt about it,
Russia gets design. The volume, quality and breadth of the collection at
Designboom trumps anything I've seen in London, New York, Seoul or Tokyo. A bold statement and utterly deserved.