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La Samaritaine unveils 3,000 square-metre beauty space
French designer Hubert de Malherbe has described the reopening of La Samaritaine Pont Neuf Paris as, “one of the greatest cosmetic events of the decade,” particularly referring to its area dedicated to beauty.
Malherbe Paris, the creative agency Hubert de Malherbe launched in 1993, worked on the design of the 3,000 square-metre space located on level one of the luxury store known for its famed Art Nouveau and Art Déco design. The project was carried out with the desire to preserve the architectural heritage of, “this very well-located jewel,” said de Malherbe, in order to please both Parisians and foreigners alike.
“We have created the most beautiful, the largest, and the most elegant beauty space in the world,” said de Malherbe. “It is a city within a city, punctuated by the flowing curves that are the signature of our designs. The layout brings to mind the ad-hoc maps of the Paris of yesteryear and each themed space has its own mosaic flooring with a uniquely created motif.” De Malherbe has worked with La Samaritaine’s owner LVMH Group for 20 years and his agency works especially closely with fragrance brand Christian Dior Parfums and Sephora boutiques.
The beauty space of the Parisian department store offers customers a gentle stroll across flooring finished in Hungarian-style point parquet and underneath tubular structures that undulate across the ceiling. A number of the building’s original architectural elements have been highlighted with the new design including metal columns which resemble the Eiffel tower which have been bolstered by stone plinths and decorated with ornate details. These columns are joined together overhead by ornate lintels which create kiosk-like areas within which brands can display their offerings.
The space follows a subtle design for its signage. The mosaics on the floor denote what the area is dedicated to with floral adornments for the perfume section, a houndstooth pattern for cosmetics, and more structured geometric patterns for skincare.
Brands which feature in the new beauty space include Diptyque, Jo Malone London, Louboutin, and Pai.
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