Under the guidance of Hugo Haas Studio, the design of this signature store on Paris’s rue Montmartre was profoundly influenced by the mid-18th-century building in which it sits. As a first step, the space was carefully excavated, revealing features of what was once a butcher’s shop. The team of skilled artisans then proceeded with a light, delicate touch, retaining as much as possible and adding only what was necessary. Simple and traditional Parisian materials were used, most of them sourced from less than 100 kilometres away.
The interior makes ample use of the sandy-hued limestone that dominates the surrounding streetscape—most prominently with a generously proportioned basin, carved directly from the rock for maximum durability. Its form and function recall those of the communal outdoor sinks that were once common on the ground floors of apartment buildings across the city—and where water and neighbourly conversation flowed with equal ease. Stainless steel and ash timber—whose light colour echoes that of the limestone—also appear throughout, notably on shelves that are utilitarian yet warm.
