The MCI Experience Centre (MCI), a 25,000 sq ft lifestyle display spread across 2.5 acres in Bangalore, showcases bespoke edification and application of rare stones combined with eclectic interior design. This state-of-the-art retail and experiential space is dedicated to showcasing innovative use of marble and natural stones, setting a new benchmark for the unique display of premium building materials. Designed by award-winning Singapore designer Wong Chiu Man, the Experience Centre offers a spectacular display of over 600 varieties of fully finished marble and natural stones sourced from the best quarries in over 42 countries.
The Experience Centre’s layout is a masterclass in spatial and structural planning, seamlessly integrating distinct zones to offer visitors a unique experience. The exterior is thoughtfully designed with a Beige Travertine facade, blending modern design with robust construction. This material provides a unique aesthetic appeal and weather-resistant properties, making it ideal for any outdoor application. The perimeter of the Experience Centre is adorned with lush landscaping, featuring a variety of trees and flowering plants, enhancing the surroundings with vibrant greenery.
The reception area has a Blue Zamai Quartzite desk that conveys solidity of form and sleekness in design. Behind the desk, an elegant Diamond Fall Granite staircase in Lapatura finish stands out as a self-supporting structure that emerges from a small water feature. The floors and walls feature Statuario marble floors in a book-match pattern creating a cohesive aesthetic throughout the lobby. Every material selected for the facade, interior, and outdoor areas seamlessly integrates with other applications, highlighting the brand’s stunning selection of products.
MCI is one of the largest retailers of imported marble, offering an impressive array of exquisite collections. The Experience Centre has three galleries, each showcasing natural stones sourced from exotic destinations around the globe. The ground floor features the marble sample area, the VIP lounge and the reception. The first floor has offices and a waiting area adorned with selective marble, furniture, and fittings. The second-floor houses ten experience zones, each designed to showcase 81 practical and innovative applications of MCI's products in real-life settings.
The floor is segmented into different zones by floor-to-ceiling doors; however, when these doors are left open, the area transforms into a vast, uninterrupted expanse with distinct sub-sections, allowing people to walk the entire floor seamlessly. Each level's sense of openness is bolstered by exceptionally high ceilings, enhancing the overall sense of expansiveness. All the floors feature lavish guest bathrooms and fully stocked pantries.
Each zone is accessorised with fine touches from all over the world, such as the latest edition coffee table books of leading architectural and interior design publications on tables and desks, and unique artwork and ornaments on the shelves.
One of the most iconic features of the Experience Centre is the enormous multi-storey Statuario portal, aptly nicknamed "The Gateway to the World of Stone." This portal serves as a grand entrance to the main gallery, symbolising the journey from experiencing these natural wonders in intricately curated applications and spaces to beholding them in their natural and unused state. Its imposing presence underscores the importance of stone in the Experience Centre's design narrative.
Other notable elements include a standalone seminar room made from Swarovski White Marble emulating an ice cube, a media room with a VR setup that highlights other projects and features, strategic eye-lid-shaped openings throughout the centre that allow a constant flow of natural light, and a coffee counter in the main gallery, crafted as an amalgamation of various natural stones, exemplifying the Experience Centre's innovative approach to material usage. These features serve practical purposes and act as a focal point, showcasing the versatility and beauty of natural stone.
The Experience Centre has advanced with cutting-edge technology, including fully automated lighting that enhances the beauty of each stone, centralised air conditioning, automated blinds and motion-sensored doors, managed by a central automation monitoring system.
Founded in 1989, Marble Centre International (MCI) is one of the largest importers and retailers of natural stones in India with the most rigid quality control measures adhering to the international standards of the industry ensuring superiority and consistency in every slab. The brand is renowned for providing the most exquisite natural stones sourced from the finest quarries in the world. With a curated product collection of over 600 types of natural stones sourced from over 42 different countries, MCI has a range that is unmatched in the industry. Today it is the largest stockist of fully processed & finished marble slabs in the country.
