The New World of Printemps

Gonzalez modernized classic materials while developing entirely new ones in the process. Traditional oak floors are enhanced with natural stone inlays, vintage-style Art Nouveau tiles reinterpret old Printemps patterns, marble-like table tops are crafted from compressed plastic recycled from the fashion industry, and delicately curved flower petals are carved from solid wood. The result is a harmonious blend of interconnected, vibrant spaces, each with a distinct identity, seamlessly merging to create a captivating journey.

With its own private entrance on the first floor of Printemps New York, the Red Room is one of the most treasured spaces within One Wall Street’s Art Deco masterpiece. Featuring 10-meter-high ceilings and a striking red gradient and gold mosaic floor designed by Hildreth Meière in the 1920s, the room presented unique challenges. “Challenges stimulate creativity,” says Gonzalez. “In the Red Room, we couldn’t mount anything on the walls—they had to remain completely protected. So, we designed a freestanding ecological resin flower forest.” These custom resin flowers, created specifically for this project, serve as displays for the store’s shoe collection. Adding to the room’s charm, a lace-cut metal canopy adorned with floral motifs and a golden mosaic ‘river’ flows toward the Red Room Bar.

In an unprecedented approach for large-scale retail, Laura Gonzalez used only recycled materials for the store’s furniture, sourcing vintage and antique pieces from French flea markets to enhance sustainability.

Printemps New York is composed of 10 distinct spaces, beginning with its undulating glass entrance on Broadway. Inside, the Playroom, furnished in multicolored marble, houses casual wear, souvenirs, and the all-day Café Jalu—named after Printemps founders Jules and Augustine Jaluzot. The store also features a fully immersive Sneaker Room, where LED screens cover the floor-to-ceiling walls.

Side-by-side escalators lead to the Salon on the second floor, home to the women’s ready-to-wear and accessories collections.

Here, wooden floors and floral carpets inspired by original Printemps patterns set the tone. Overlooking Broadway, the Parisian-style Salon Vert bar is adorned with hand-painted tiles.

In the menswear section, La Garçonnière, monochrome patterns and textures contrast with pink moiré wallpaper, soft pink curtains, and pastel frescoes. Nearby, the beauty corridor—designed in beige concrete and resin—connects the building’s original Art Deco tower to the modern structure, leading to the Salle de Bain, the beauty and spa area.

From there, the space transitions into the elegant Boudoir, where double-height ceilings, warm moonlight-toned metal finishes, and crackled lacquer screens by Parisian Atelier Maury create a refined ambiance for evening wear, vintage fashion, and high jewelry collections. A pink marble staircase descends from the Boudoir to the Red Room Bar, offering an intimate retreat.

Paris-based Studio Pierre Marie has reinterpreted Printemps’ traditional stained-glass windows with a modern twist. Brooklyn-based sculptor William Coggin has crafted an eye-catching bar counter inspired by coral formations, while French artist Charles Kaisin has created an intricate bird installation at the Salon.