Hermès Opens First Freestanding Store in Beijing

Hermès (Paris) has opened its first freestanding store in Beijing. Located in the city’s Sanlitun district, the new destination “sparks a conversation between local cultural heritage and the creative spirit of Hermès, while offering an immersive setting to discover the house’s 16 métiers,” the retailer said in a news release.

The glass building is wrapped in rose-pink and terracotta ceramic tiles. The façade, designed by Parisian architecture firm RDAI in collaboration with Mamou-Mani Architects, functions as a semi-transparent veil, composed in a rhythmic sequence that balances opacity and openness, allowing the interiors to be bathed in natural light.

Inside, the store’s open-plan layout centers around a majestic stone staircase that spirals upward with a design reflecting the arched forms and woven patterns on the façade.

Here’s the retailer’s floor-by-floor description of the space:

* The first floor presents “a vivid tableau: the vibrant silk universe shares this level with the equestrian collections and fashion jewelry – all set against a multi-colored patchwork of mosaics inspired by the Faubourg flooring.”

* The second floor is home to the women’s and men’s
ready-to-wear areas and an extensive shoe display, along with fitting rooms and a private salon.

* On the third floor, “marquetry made from various woods, a lacquered wall engraved with peony motifs, and ceramic brick walls arranged in an H pattern converge to frame the home collections, leather goods, watches and jewelry.”

* The top level is a large private salon that opens onto a landscaped terrace.

The new store is the fourth Hermès has opened in Beijing since 1997.