C&A Flagship

The C&A department store, situated on the corner of the Boulevard Haussmann and the rue des Mathurins in Paris is the flagship of the chain.

The task for AIM Hanemian Architectes was to liven up the store, both during the day as well as at night, to increase the sales area and the window display space and devise a way of dividing the store into two trading units. AIM Hanemian Architects solved certain technical problems and improved circulation within the store.

It was also necessary to give some thought to the external appearance of the store with more obvious and attractive entrances and a more dynamic C&A brand identity.

To create more space in the key areas of the store and also improve the appearance of the façades, a new drainage system was designed. The emergency staircases and store rooms were re-sited; the glass roof became the highlight of the centre of the store and the central siting of the escalators made it possible to increase the floor space available for sales counters and an element of flexibility in their arrangement.

New window display spaces were installed on the ground and the first floor. The Moorish style façade of the rue des Mathurins was entirely uncovered, having previously been in large part hidden. Finally particular attention was devoted to the architectural lighting system to enhance the external appearance of the store.