The (re)creative spirit of the Hermès world

agement company Venice Plan Ingegneria and the Superintendence of Fine Arts. The architect focused on a “box in the box” design, placing the monumental building envelope in a conversation with the interior design and the decorative system with made to measure furnishings inspired by the essence of Venice. In its 52 rooms (36 standard, 15 suites, 1 presidential suite) and 3 apartments, the woods and other materials, with their unique designs, are put in continuity with the building’s original materials. The finishes and colors evoke the hues of water, reflections of the glass of the nearby Murano factory, and the interiors of gondolas. The marbles and their distinctive veins — such as Palissandro Nuvolato and Bardiglio Nuvolato — are also references to the lagoon, and the paintings of the rooms pay homage to the friezes and frescoes of the ceilings, made primarily in the nineteenth century by Bevilacqua, when the Nani family had already left the building to move to Ca’ Rezzonico. According to the architect,

“The dialogue with history was essential.” He modified the internal structures as little as possible in the new layout, adding only a few partitions when strictly necessary, designing wardrobes and furnishing elements with technological parts, so as to avoid interrupting the visual continuity of the spaces. Where possible, the marble chip flooring was restored; otherwise parquet flooring was used with a geometric pattern in keeping with the interiors’ linear quality. The common areas, which are on three floors, are dominant. The hotel’s main entrance has the reception console and accesses the restaurants and the bar, whose key feature is a curved, lagoon-green counter. The noble halls on the first and second floors return to their historic functions as a place of entertainment, with lounge seats made jointly with Natuzzi to evoke the colors of mythological ceiling frescoes, marbles and muses painted in the ovals above the doors. The architect says, “They are magical places, full of light, where guests can feel at home.” That’s a fitting summary of a design that seeks to offer the best of hospitality on the lagoon in an alluring setting that brings art, history and design into symbiotic harmony.

The Hermès boutique in Rue de Sèvres, Paris, has been renovated and restyled, and a new store is opening next door to showcase Petit H, a collection of “circular” objects made by reusing materials. Architectural design by RDAI

The extraordinary exploratory approach that defines Hermès’ creations come through powerfully in its newly renovated absolutely charming boutique in Rue de Sèvres in Paris, and in the new space it opened right next door at no. 17. The petit h métier, which is about sustainability and material reuse, has an independent entrance and display window, born of thinking about reinvention and environmental respect while keeping true to the artisan values and aesthetic excellence that have forged every single Hermès piece since 1837. RDAI architects were responsible for the new architectural work as well as renovation of the flagship store, given the importance of the site where both are located, the former Lutetia swimming pool, named a national monument in 2005. The existing section covers over 1300 square meters and houses all sixteen

Owner: Hermès Interior design: RDAI Artistic director: Denis Montel Project interior architect: Nathalie Gonon Interior architect: Joanna Andreassian Lighting consultant: Metis Lighting Furnishings: RDAI design and selections

Author: Manuela Di Mari Photo credits: Guillaume Grasset