PHOTO COURTESY OF HERMÈS
Fashion lovers have yet another reason to visit London. Because Hermès has officially opened its sixth maison in the world, at 166 New Bond Street. Joining Paris, New York, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai, this new address gathers all 16 of the house’s métiers under one roof, forming a significant milestone for the French house.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HERMÈS
Spanning nearly 2,000 sqm across six interconnected historical buildings, the spectacle unfolds over 55 rooms, four staircases, three lifts and a series of rooftop terraces. Paris-based architecture studio RDAI, under the artistic direction of Denis Montel, designed the interiors. They balance Georgian architecture with contemporary craftsmanship, offering a distinctly British take on the house aesthetic. The sense of grandeur is immediate.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HERMÈS
Beyond the 7-metre-high façade, Hermès’ signature ex-libris is embedded into the floor, while a soaring vaulted ceiling creates an optical illusion overhead. A light-filled atrium crowned by a steel-and-glass roof anchors a sculptural spiral staircase that winds through the building’s core. Nearby stands a specially commissioned horse by British artist Jessica Wetherly, one of over 500 artworks woven throughout the space.
Beyond its scale, the maison further distinguishes itself through a series of interconnected worlds. Beauty, perfumes and fashion jewellery sit within an imaginary orangerie. Leather goods, meanwhile, spread across a sequence of richly coloured rooms, leading to private salons, the home collection and an expansive equestrian space overlooking the atrium. Elsewhere, intimate watch and jewellery salons offer quieter moments within the vast flagship.
Fashion takes centrestage on the second floor. Women’s shoes and ready-to-wear sit against powder-pink interiors, floral carpets and original mosaic flooring. Next door, the men’s universe adopts a darker, club-like mood, with deep blue Victorian-inspired wall coverings and reclaimed oak floors. To mark the opening, Hermès also introduces an exclusive selection for the Bond Street Maison. These range from colourful leather goods and carrés to pieces from Ateliers Horizons, jewellery, watches, perfume and the equestrian métier.
Beyond retail, visitors also get a rare glimpse into Hermès’ enduring commitment to craftsmanship. On the third floor, artisans carry out repairs and restoration work. Above that, the private fourth floor houses the Émile Hermès collection. Rooftop lounges, a garden and the Artificier, Hermès’ flag-bearing horseman, sit alongside. Altogether, these spaces reinforce the sense that the maison is as much a cultural destination as it is a shopping address.
For visitors familiar with Hermès’ landmark stores in Seoul, Tokyo and Shanghai, the New Bond Street maison offers a different proposition altogether. It embraces London’s architectural heritage and creative spirit, while remaining unmistakably Hermès.
