Printemps’ new flagship in New York City signals a new era of retail spaces that offer unique shopping experiences centered around exploration and discovery.
Designed to feel like a welcoming Parisian apartment, this stunning store invites visitors to immerse themselves in its carefully curated atmosphere, offering a mix of clothing, accessories, home décor, and more. With distinct sections, including a shoe salon adorned with Art Nouveau frescoes, the focus is on hospitality and creating a unique experience that blends history, luxury, and modern retail trends.
Printemps has introduced its retail concept to New York’s evolving Financial District. To unify the landmark Art Deco One Wall Street building with its 1960s modern glass-and-metal extension and 55,000 square foot floorspace, Printemps enlisted Laura Gonzalez for her ability to blend traditional and contemporary design. ‘We were very inspired by the heritage of Printemps — the mosaics, the stained glass, the patterns, the original art — but this is in New York,’ Gonzalez explains. ‘It’s a new story. It’s a city where everything is possible.’
Classic oak floors are inlaid with natural stone, vintage-style Art Nouveau tiles reinterpret historic motifs, and what appears to be marble tabletops are actually compressed recycled plastic from the fashion industry. The store’s furniture, crafted entirely from upcycled materials, marks a first for large-scale retail design. Antique pieces sourced from French flea markets further enhance sustainability efforts.
The retail experience unfolds through ten uniquely designed sections, each offering its own identity while maintaining cohesion. The Broadway entrance leads to the Playroom, a vibrant, multi-coloured marble space housing casualwear, gifts, and the all-day Café Jalu. The Sneaker Room, featuring an LED ceiling installation, offers a futuristic shopping experience, while the Salon, with its intricate wood flooring and floral textiles, sets the stage for women’s ready-to-wear and accessories.
The Boudoir, a focal point for evening wear, vintage clothing, and fine jewelry, features opulent double-height ceilings, warm moon-gold metal cladding, and Atelier Maury’s cracked lacquer screens. An adjacent pink marble staircase leads to the cozy, ground-level Red Room Bar, designed with rich red jasper marble and stained glass to create an intimate ambiance.
The restaurant features a large stained-glass window by Pierre Marie and a fresco created using AI-generated images of sunsets from former French colonies, which Gonzalez transformed into a mural executed by Atelier Roma.
This opening marks a significant evolution in retail design as historic preservation is merged with forward-thinking sustainability and adaptability. ‘What we have created in New York physically embodies our core values of innovation and perpetual renewal,’ says Printemps Group CEO Jean-Marc Bellaiche. ‘It forges a lasting connection between New York and Paris, between Printemps and the city.’
images © Gieves Anderson for Printemps New York
