Galeries Lafayette Group completes the restoration of its Haussmann flagship’s iconic dome
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann’s famous dome will be returned to its full splendour this spring, after over two years of extensive renovations. The restoration of this Art Nouveau treasure – one of the largest refurbishments ever undertaken by the Boulevard Haussmann flagship store – was overseen by Citynove, the group’s real-estate asset management business. The store’s glass dome, which was erected in record time in 1912, was a collaboration between three renowned artists. Ferdinand Chanut was responsible for the geometry and structure, Jacques Grüber for the stained-glass panels and Louis Majorelle for the ironwork. To this day, the dome, or “Coupole”, continues to be admired by the department store’s 37 million annual visitors, and is one of the French capital’s key attractions.
The dome was in much need of modernisation and restoration, since over a century of expansions and refurbishments – especially the addition of more floors and electric and plumbing installations – had considerably reduced the amount of natural light entering the building through the glass dome. As well as flooding the department store with daylight again, restoration work included extensive waterproofing. The dome was also fitted with programmable lighting and motorised hoisting points so it can be used most effectively to stage events.
The unprecedented makeover took place in various phases and followed a strict timeline. In the first phase, which was completed in October 2020, the stained-glass panels were dismantled for restoration and temporarily substituted with white glass. In the second phase, which was finished in April 2021, the old structure was taken down and replaced with the new one. To avoid disrupting life inside the department store, all the work was carried out at night. The project was managed by Perrot & Richard Architectes.
“The ‘Coupole’ encapsulates Galeries Lafayette’s historic values and desire to offer visitors a unique blend of creation and commerce. It is a symbol of innovation, expertise, and rich cultural heritage. This large-scale project, which ensures the dome continues to reflect its epoch and the history of our retail family business, was completed thanks to the unique know-how of exceptional craftsmen and women. Today, I would like to deeply thank them heartily for their efforts throughout these two years. We are delighted to unveil the new face of this Art Nouveau treasure to our visitors and to Paris.”