LA SAMARITAINE DEPARTMENT STORE IN PARIS: I was a bit underwhelmed.

The Samaritaine Department Store near Pont Neuf in the 1st arrondissement in Paris is currently owned by LVMH – and billionaire Bernard Arnaud.

According to a lengthy article on Wikipedia “La Samaritaine was bought in 2001 by LVMH, the luxury-goods company that had just previously purchased Le Bon Marché. On 15 June 2005, in order to update the 19th-century building to modern standards of security, or for purposes of restructuring, as the labor unions believe, the department store was closed.[3] LVMH selected the Japanese architectural firm SANAA to renovate the building.”

I am not surprised by the Japanese connection because I thought it had a very minimalist aesthetic, even in terms of the décor. And I remarked on this before I read this article.

Apparently, I am not the only one who picked up on the fact that this morceau of architecture is not very French. According to Wikipedia “Implementation of the new design has been blocked a number of times by local authorities for failure to adhere to planning requirements and for lack of visual compatibility with the surrounding buildings.” That said, it is now viewed favorably by many, as an "art deco wonder." According to Conde Nast Traveler, "it's an Art Deco and Art Nouveau wonder which is the primary reason to visit."

Hm….inneresting....

The original Samaritaine store was bought by Ernest Cognacq in 1870, and designed by architects Frantz Jourdain and Henri Sauvage.

By 2005, it was shut down and out of commission.

The Samaritaine caters to an affluent clientele with brands like Chanel, Dior, and Cartier setting up shops in there. Also according to Conde Nast " Approximately 215,000 square feet are devoted to retail space in this complex, which includes the Cheval Blanc hotel, office space, and housing, making it the smallest of the city’s department stores (the others are Le Bon Marché, Printemps, and Galeries Lafayette)."

ADDRESS
9 Rue de la Monnaie, 75001 Paris

HOW TO GET THERE
METRO line 7 Pont Neuf
RER B, D
MétroMétro:7
BusBus:
38
58
70
72
74
85

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