Parisian Landmark Undergoes Renovations of Historic Buildings

Petit, a VINCI Construction France subsidiary, has delivered the La Samaritaine renovated buildings, a well-known Parisian landmark established in 1870 by Ernest Cognacq, to the LVMH group.

The project began in 2015, utilizing up to 700 employees daily, including heritage renovation experts, and encompasses stores 2 and 4, which are located between the river Seine and rue de Rivoli, in Paris’s first arrondissement. This 70,000-square-meter operation involved a full revamp; the complex now houses the La Samaritaine Paris Pont-Neuf department store (approximately 30,000 square meters), 96 social housing units (6,350 square meters), a crèche for 80 children (1,100 square meters), offices (16,000 square meters) and a Cheval Blanc hotel with 72 rooms and suites (14,500 square meters).

The historic and heritage features of the emblematic department store — namely the glass roof, monumental staircase and peacock painting — have been refurbished to match the original décor. France’s top specialists handled the conservation and restoration of the façade’s hallmarks, including the enameled lava panels, ridges, composite decorations, ceramics and mosaics.

In the center, the historic Art Nouveau building, designed by architect Frantz Jourdain, now includes social housing units meeting the targets of the city of Paris’ Climate Plan, with primary energy consumption lower than or equal to 80 kWh/sqm/yr.

On the Seine side, there is now the Cheval Blanc Paris hotel in the Art Deco building, originally created by architect Henri Sauvage. The full conversion entailed creating 12 lifts and staircases connecting the hotel’s floors. The meticulous work to restore the façade by the river involved integrating openings with sections that provide thermal and acoustical properties for the indoor areas. The two restaurants on the seventh floor feature terraces overlooking the Seine and a garden terrace skirting La Samaritaine’s glass roof to the north. A spa with a 30-meter-long swimming pool and a fitness center were built in the first basement.

For the Rivoli block, the architect created an unambiguously contemporary design. The building has an ultra-high-tech, three-layer transparent façade (a wavy exterior layer, a flat silk-screened layer and a thermal insulating layer). This new construction, combining concrete and a metal structure, stands on rue de Rivoli and rue de la Monnaie. A new glass roof, known as an “ombrelle,” allows daylight to flood the patio and provides natural light in the retail areas in the basement.

Photos credit: Michael Tubiana.