The ultra-modern gallery of shops Galeries Lafayette Champs-Èlysèes, also called the retail laboratory, was opened.
In the modern world, not only the goods themselves play an important role, but also the places where they are sold. These are no longer just shops with boring counters. Modern retail spaces, becoming an important part of city life, are gradually turning into real temples of trade. And the recently opened Galeries Lafayette is a perfect confirmation of this.
The ultra-modern shopping gallery Galeries Lafayette Champs-Èlysèes, also called the Retail Lab, was created in 2019 by the architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group. This masterpiece of modern retail is located in a historic building on the famous Champs Elysees in Paris.
The creators of Galeries managed to rethink the spirit of the building, built in 1932, so that both internally and externally it remains harmonious, meets the spirit of the past and future of the fashion capital and naturally fits into the surrounding landscape.
The gallery has become home to the world's leading fashion, food and lifestyle brands. Navigating the interior of the building allows visitors to interact with the various architectural elements that separate the shopping areas. The texture, furniture and decor elements here are reminiscent of a historical building, the spirit of the past naturally flowing into the present, which is also emphasized by precious materials and sophisticated details that were actively used in the design.
The creators turned to the ability of furniture and interior items to delimit the interior space and did not use walls and other massive elements, leaving room for change and dynamic development. Visitors are amazed by the glowing bridge, the round glass dome over the atrium that fills the space with light, the huge staircase leading to the multifunctional space on the ground floor, the row of hanging glass windows visible from the lower levels, which can be used for completely different purposes. A series of separate spaces and rooms facing the atrium are united by a continuous gold ring that wraps around the columns.
The space, consisting of many pavilions, can change and transform, inviting creativity and constant experimentation. From the ground floor, visitors can see the upper levels at a glance, encouraging them to explore the various destinations and activities. Galeries is a modern urban space, a place that can be used for fashion shows and special events, and which residents of the city aspire to get into.
It can be assumed that this approach will become the leading one in creating spaces for retail in the coming years.