Chanel’s historic commitment to the Métiers d'art goes back to its founder, Gabrielle Chanel, who was already collaborating with the biggest artisans of her time in the creation of her iconic products, such as the shoemaker Massaro for the production of the two-tone shoe (1957), the master jeweller Goossens for her baroque costume jewellery (1954) or the fabric flowers specialist, Lemarié, who has been exclusively making the camellias, emblems of the House, since the 1960s.
Having started its acquisitions in 1985, a pioneer in this domain, the House of Chanel has been providing sustainable development for several decades to the different entities, regrouped under Paraffection, and located at several sites, notably in Pantin, Aubervilliers and Paris. Vital players in the world of fashion and luxury, indispensable partners of Karl Lagerfeld, his creation studio and the Chanel Ready-to-Wear and Haute Couture ateliers, the Chanel Métiers d'art magnify the creations in every collection by the House, thanks to their traditional yet innovative expertise.
In 2018, Chanel is increasing its commitment to its Métiers d'art with the establishment of a dedicated new site to be completed in 2020 with a surface of 25,500 m2 over five floors and two basements, located on an area of 9,000 m2, at the Porte d'Aubervilliers, between the 19th arrondissement of Paris and the commune of Aubervilliers, in the heart of a rapidly evolving neighbourhood. The project was awarded to architect Rudy Ricciotti, winner of the Grand Prix National d'Architecture, whose projects combine the power of creation with a constructive culture.
Conceived for fashion-orientated activities, the vertical organisation of the building will bring together the different Chanel Métiers d'art on one single site, while preserving their individual identities as independent and autonomous entities. Built from innovative concrete, an elegant frame recalling the world of textiles will be built upon an exostructure. The scooped-out conception of the building will allow for the integration of flexibility and precision in the layout of work spaces – creative and production workshops – in order to bring the links together, follow the evolution of their activities and specific needs, and to pool the services as well as the logistic means. The provision of natural lighting will be prioritised as will the hygrothermal comfort throughout the seasons; innovative techniques will favour energy efficiency, as well as the comfort and wellbeing of the occupants. In the central area there will be an open green space accessible from the interior corridors surrounding the building.
For Bruno Pavlovsky, President of Fashion at Chanel: “This remarkable and ambitious project will be a place to serve both creation and innovation between the Métiers d'art and the House of Chanel, as well as the Métiers d'art and their other clients, and will be a creative space open to the exterior. This new Parisian real estate development will be unique as much by its urban and architectural qualities as by its functionality and its objectives in terms of innovation and sustainable development.”
