Retail Design, Paul Smith, Paris

• Posted by Will 29 July 2009

Retail design doesn't always have to be about the new and bright, or trends and the latest fittings. Last year Paul Smith, for me the leader in  British men's fashion, opened a new shop on Rue de Grenelle in Paris. When I say new that's not fully true. The premises was found in much the same way that you have found objects in art. The building had been vacant for some time and retained many of its original pre- war fittings.

This is how the man himself explained it on his own blog when the shop opened “The very exciting point about the Grenelle shop is that it is in premises that have been empty since the 1980’s and is in a very ‘interesting’ state of decay! The walls are unpainted for many years, the floor tiles are the original, 80 year old shelves, everything dates back to the 1930’s when La Tourrette was opened by Monsieur Tourrette as a ‘Bougnat’; the left side of the shop selling coal, the right side selling wine. The business was run by Monsieur Tourrette and continued through the generations, including his daughter and then later other members of the family. In the early 1960’s it was opened as a little cafe and from then until its closure was a famous haunt of many intellectuals including Jacques Prevert and his brother who were regular visitors along with actresses and writers.”

I love the mix of old and new. The concept fits well  with the theme of designer as curator.

Paul Smith, 70 rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris.