A chandelier of Nike sneakers now hangs inside 19th-century mansion Pershing Hall, where design studio Snarkitecture has created a new flagship for American streetwear brand Kith.
New York-based Snarkitecture has designed more than 10 different stores for Kith, but this is the largest so far, and the brand's first standalone store in Europe.
Kith has taken three floors of Pershing Hall, a Paris mansion built in the 19th century
The fit out was designed to be true to the urban New York style that Kith is known for, but to also respect the building's unique history.
Originally built in the late 1800s as a private residence, it was bought by the American Legion in 1928 to serve as headquarters for American general John J Pershing. It was later used as an officer's club, before being converted into a five-star hotel. Nike sneaker casts line the barrel-vaulted ceiling at the store's entrance
Snarkitecture's approach was to combine contemporary forms and graphics with traditional materials and proportions.
"Much of the design was inspired by the history and existing condition of Pershing Hall," said the studio, which is led by artist Daniel Arsham. "However, it was important to balance those elements with a contemporary retail experience."
"In order to reference the historical context of the space, we introduced new techniques and materials to the Kith retail aesthetic, including walnut wainscotting, moulding and Venetian plaster."
A second Nike ...