The reconstruction plan was presented by Jean-Jacques Guyoni, CFO of LVMH (Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton S. A), which also owns Samaritain. This project received approval from the authorities - in contrast to the previous one, which was not approved, as it did not provide enough space for social housing. In the current version, this deficiency has been corrected.
Recall that the famous department store complex includes the building of Franz Jourdain, made in the Art Nouveau style in 1903-1907, as well as a 10-storey building designed by Henri Sauvage in 1926-1929 in the spirit of Art Deco. The historic buildings located between the Seine and Rue de Rivoli were closed in July 2005: then they were declared obsolete and dangerous to use.
The new "Samariten" will retain its historical name (translated from French - "Samaritanka") and will include 26,000 m2 of shops, 20,000 m2 of offices and 100 apartments for social housing with a total area of 7,000 m2. There will also be a kindergarten for 60 children and an elite hotel of the Cheval Blanc chain, which also belongs to the LVMH group.
The hotel, with 80 rooms and apartments, is set in an Art Deco-style Sauvage building along the Seine. Other buildings, including the Art Nouveau building with its large glass roof, will house offices and shops, including the indispensable Louis Vuitton boutique. Various cultural events will be held on the open terrace of the upper - fifth - level.
More than 460 million euros have been invested in the project. The reconstruction will be carried out by the SANAA bureau. Japanese architects have developed a project for the reconstruction of the entire block of buildings, with the exception of the interiors of the building on the banks of the Seine - the future hotel: Edouard François will take care of it. The new "Samaritan" will open its doors in mid-2014.
E. P.
