Servus Hermès: The Boutique Is Now Presented On Three Floors
The long wait is now over: after the renovation work, the sixteen metiers of the house are presented in a subtle blend of modernity and an aesthetic characteristic of Vienna's historic city.
Bonjour and Bienvenue in Vienna!
Hermès reopens its newly enlarged Vienna boutique
Since 22 September, Hermès is pleased to announce the reopening of its renovated and enlarged boutique in Vienna, one of the two locations of the House in Austria, along with Salzburg. Located at Graben 22, one of the most famous squares in the city centre, the boutique demonstrates Hermès' commitment to the capital and its clientele and contributes to the country's dynamism.
Hermès' sixteen metiers around a sculptural staircase
The boutique, which has been located in the same 18th-century building since 2001, has not only been completely renovated by the Parisian architecture firm RDAI, but has also been extended by an additional floor and in depth, doubling its original space. The savoir-faire of the Parisian house is now presented on three floors: women's and men's silk, accessories, the Maison universe as well as equestrian sports, Hermès Beautè and perfumes on the ground floor, prêt-à-porter women and men as well as shoes on the first floor, jewellery and watches, leather as well as the VIP salon on the second floor. These different open areas, which flow into each other, all have their own visual identity. A sculptural, partially curved staircase made of travertine forms the centrepiece of the new boutique and winds its way up the entire height. The vertical lines of its fluted natural oak cladding connect the three floors.
Bold modernity inspired by Viennese Art Nouveau
The architectural language of the building is inspired by the Vienna Secession art movement and features subtle combinations of colours, materials and geometric shapes. Starting from the entrance, the emblematic "Grecque" glass globe lamps combined with Art Nouveau stucco mouldings give the ceiling a decorative character. The luminaires in the ancient Greek style set off the mosaic floor in shades of green and gold, on which the "ex-libris" motif of the house appears. Refined stylistic elements such as mouldings and cornices characterise the upper edge of the walls and form a fine ornament. Stained glass windows in soft caramel and copper tones and shades of sandblasted and clear glass modulate the light and create a special room atmosphere. Each area has cosy alcoves with arched windows, soft lighting and upholstered benches.
Carte blanche for the private salon
For this salon, Hermès gave free rein to one of its loyal partners at the house, a silk carré illustrator since 2010: decorator and ornamentalist Pierre Marie. The artist has designed an interior consisting of a carpet, wall textiles and stained glass windows, all of which combine selected harness and clasp motifs from the archives of the house of Hermès with ornaments carved by masters of the Vienna Secession. The highlight of this salon is the impressive stained glass window À la lueur du flambeau, which consists of sixteen panels. This decorative ensemble is in harmony with the iridescent wallpaper reminiscent of flames, the result of the creation of a carré of the same name.
Around sixty works of art from the Émile Hermès collection - paintings, drawings and engravings, but also photographs from the design studio and graphic creations, as well as collections of contemporary photographs and objects - continue this lively dialogue between Viennese art and the world of horses so beloved by Hermès. To mark the boutique's opening, Austrian artist trio Jakob Lena Knebl, Ashley Hans Scheirl and Markus Pires Mata have created three extraordinary windows inspired by the Émile Hermès collection. The centrepiece is a huge blue horse made of corduroy, consisting of two mirrored heads.
A new era for Hermès begins in Vienna
This enlarged and redesigned boutique marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Hermès in Vienna. The Parisian house invites loyal customers and new visitors to discover the diversity and modernity of its collections in a warm ambience that combines local inspiration and craftsmanship with its exceptional savoir-faire.
Since 1837, Hermès has remained faithful to its artisanal model and humanist values. The freedom of creation, the spirit of innovation, the constant search for beautiful materials, the transmission of the savoir-faire of excellence and the aesthetics of functionality characterise the uniqueness of Hermès, a house of objects made to last forever. Hermès is an independent family business that encompasses 16 metiers. It strives to keep the majority of its production in France, in its 54 ateliers and production sites, and to expand its network of more than 300 shops in 45 countries.
Photos: PR
