The Hermès Madison Avenue flagship store is a union of New York dynamism and Parisian elegance, and an ambitious fusion of three existing buildings.
The historical 706 Madison Bank building plan offers a deep perspective, a very straight geometry, rhythmed with a sequence of small rooms. In contrast, 704 Madison - a combination of two town houses - features voluptuous curves and smooth lines; a more organic architecture in tone and form, with multiple and inverted arches.
We worked to reinforce this contrast and complementarity of atmosphere which runs throughout 706 and 704 enabling their histories to communicate with each other and allowing the public to discover their identities.
The interiors explore, without any nostalgia and with a resolutely modern approach, an expression of what “Art deco” could be today, taking subtle cues from the New York Art Deco influence of the early Manhattan Rockefeller and Chrysler skyscrapers with a strong echo to Paris Art Deco periods.
The interiors develop in a harmonious style, inspiration from nature, strong geometry and an extensive range of materials and colors such as green straw marquetry wall panels in the men’s department and equestrian, gold crackled lacquer wall finish in the perfume department alcoves, celadon green crackled lacquer wall finish in the leather salon, recycled leather finish wall panels in the men’s VIP salon, and the bespoke oyster mushroom fabric covering the jewelry department and private jewelry salon wall.
The color palettes intensify from floor to floor with tones of green, dark chocolate and cognac on the Bank building side and warm neutrals – ivories, beiges, light browns – ochre and dusty pinks at 704 Madison.
Decorative details were emphasized and translated into contemporary details such as the “trompe l’oeil” effect of the marble mosaic floor, the wooden coffered ceiling, and the grills of the original bank building’s safe.
The Hermès atmosphere was strengthened with references to details from the original Hermes Faubourg, Paris 1926, including the leather glass showcases, oval glass and brass counters, or the Faubourg mosaic floor pattern.
The staircase geometry provides an easy, fluid “promenade” from floor to floor. Organic, curved shapes were expressed in solid and perennial materials, resulting in a high-tech monolithic block stone staircase, with a sense of movement and lightness! The stone stair flights are built with a post tensioning technique, and the guardrails are double beam stone balustrades.
The roof of the 704 building was re-built (providing a double height volume on the fourth floor), with domelike double curved glass skylight, providing a very luminous atmosphere, which overlooks a lush roof garden designed in collaboration with Miranda Brooks. The fourth floor welcomes the visitors with a bar, a speak easy and a promenade in the garden. This is a new era of retail where the client is invited to experience the life style of the Maison Hermès.