In 1893, the Hôtel de Nocé at 26 Place Vendôme in Paris became home to jewelry house Boucheron. As a celebration of the building’s 160th birthday, the brand—with the support of the Kering Group—began an in-depth renovation of the space, which has recently been completed. Last week during the haute couture shows, Whitewall was invited to visit the reopened Place Vendôme maison where we had the chance to take in some new novelty pieces, as well.
The site was built in 1717 and has become a representation of the Boucheron’s savoir-faire. A key part of the house’s history, the goal of the renovation was to peel back 300 years of aging in order to expose the original spirit and heritage of the space. That responsibility was placed in the hands of Michel Goutal, Chief Architect of historic monuments, and interior designer, Pierre-Yves Rochon.
The interior of 26 Place Vendôme feels like a private mansion. The unique space has all of the comfort and attributes of an elegant family home, while keeping intact the elevated feel of a place designed to display fine jewelry. To create an environment that would inspire the brand’s future while keeping in touch with its past, the building’s original architecture remains at the forefront, complemented by décor with a contemporary feel. The new design highlights high ceilings, herringbone wood floors, grand chandeliers, and gold gilding; paired with contemporary furniture like a modular couch, geometric display cases, and modern art and wall hangings.
For the house’s latest collection, Creative Director Claire Choisne honored Frédéric Boucheron’s talent for shaking up the traditional framework of jewelry by designing with and for women. That includes the Jack collection, a series of yellow and white gold mix-and-match pieces that can be worn many ways; additions to the Serpent Bohème collection; the roaring 1920s-reminiscent Couture pieces; and the Vendôme bracelets, available exclusively at Place Vendôme.
