After 16 years of extensive renovation, La Samaritaine has reopened to the public in the heart of Paris. First inaugurated in 1910 and after undergoing an art deco extension in 1928, the art nouveau store was closed in 2005 due to safety reasons. After nearly a century of its construction, the building, which is set by the Pont Neuf on rue de Rivoli and spans across 70,000 square meters, has reopened its doors with a facelift that shows reverence to its original architectural features whilst giving it a modern update.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQYM7CDL1kw/

Tokyo-based Pritzker Prize-winning architectural firm SANAA is behind the renovation, which includes a new glass-clad structure, with luxe and light-filled interiors, redesigned by Yabu Pushelberg, according to Design Bloom. The update includes the creation of patios to bring in skylights, and the construction of a contemporary structure on the Rivoli side of the department store, which has been articulated by irregular waves of glass, beautifully reflecting the surrounding Paris.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQgltx_o3B5/

The art nouveau façade was meticulously restored alongside the glass roof and Eiffel structure, offering a spectacular mélange of the past and present. Canadian studio Yabu Pushelberg has redesigned the interiors of the structure, which is now called the ‘pont-neuf’ building.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ_Z5Q-NqdK/

Known as one of the biggest concept stores in the city, La Samaritaine offers an exquisite combination of fashion, beauty, gastronomy and art de vivre. In addition to a spectacular lifestyle experience, it offers tours in several languages, which allow you to delve into the history of the architectural marvel and its surroundings.

Lasamaritaine.com; Cover image via @Samaritaineparis on Instagram.