Retail Fitout Wet Dreams Are Made by Ciguë.

Melinda Gloss Paris.

Études Studio Paris. Photo by Tom de Peyret.

Isabel Marant Victor Hugo Paris.

Isabel Marant Tokyo.

Aesop Marais.

Edition Osaka.

Alain Ducasse Saint Germain.

Maiyet Crosby Street.

French design collective Ciguë have been busy creating some incredible spaces for the likes of Isabel Marant, Diane Von Fustenburg, Yves Saint Laurent, Céline, Aesop and Études Studio. Established in 2003 by six friends who studied together at La Villette School of Architecture, Ciguë have emerged as design heavyweights working across a range of disciplines with a purposeful touch.

I won’t lie, I have a major online shopping addiction. And while I enjoy the convenience of shopping from the comfort of my couch the experience is somewhat loveless and lacks context. Enter Ciguë. Not only do these guys bring the feels but they also challenge what we conceive of a retail space. Exquisite architectural detailing and the precocious use of materials are what set this practice apart. Wrought iron, natural brass, solid timber and poured concrete interlace wonderfully together and are left to speak for themselves.

For Ciguë it’s all about discovery through making. On every project the team work through a rigorous process of prototyping that takes place their workshop and studio in Montrueil, Paris. Being the archi-nerd that I am, experiencing these spaces is all about basking in the finer details of design such as illuminated rice paper screens, quirky junction details or the light patina on blackened steel. It’s all so drool-worthy.

Isabel Marant Hong Kong.

Isabel Marant Bangkok.

Isabel Marant Tokyo.

Isabel Marant Victor Hugo Paris.

Different forms of wood have found their way into Isabel Marant boutiques. This consistent language takes form in layered bamboo screens in Bangkok, solid afrormosia cladding in Hong Kong, raw pine studs in Tokyo and solid oak blocks in Paris. There’s a wonderful sense of playfulness and discovery as you weave your way through the sculptural forms.

Edition Osaka.

Celine Paris.

Other wondrous wood examples can be found in Osaka’s Edition store where the floors are cobbled together using solid oak end grain timber. This also appears the Céline showroom where an assortment of painted fir members are stacked on top of each other to create a display for leather goods. The colour and texture variation of the end grains is utterly exquisite. Is it just me or wouldn’t you love to run your hands along that uneven surface?

Julien David x Quiksilver.

Ciguë have created ingenious methods of display that are functional, lasting and inherently beautiful. Entangled welded brass hold wetsuits that drip onto hyper-red plastic for the Julien David x Quicksilver collaboration. And yes, you weren’t mistaken that is a tuxedo wetsuit!

Melinda Gloss Paris.

The grey solid oak hanging rails in the Melinda Gloss Boutique seem to be born out of the dark inlayed floors that zig-zag through the space.

Dušan Paunović showroom.

Sturdy wrought iron struts that fan out like umbrellas are used to hang a sparse collection of jackets in the Dušan Paunović showroom and grounded concrete blocks are stacked to showcase accessories for Maiyet.

Aesop Lexington.

Aesop Marais.

Aesop Covent Garden. Remember these tiles?

Aesop Tiquetonne.

What a dreamy combo Ciguë and Aesop make. Aesop’s stores in Paris and London incorporate found objects to create unconventional displays. Shelving is formed with meticulously aligned wrought iron Japanese nails in Tiquetonne and black steel cups (often used as plumbing pipe lids) line the walls in Le Marais. In Soho and Covent Garden, vintage tapware sit in stark contrast with white plaster, cement tile and reclaimed pinewood floorboards.

Related Post: Tour of Aesop Stores Around The World.

Études Studio.

The combination of concrete, grey glass, stainless steel and white lacquer is so crisp and oh so nice. The fit-out of Études Studio is all about the refined details and clear sightlines. Reinforced concrete plinths with ultra sexy shadow lines are divided by panels of grey glass while stainless steel tubes and steel flats fixed to I-beams form the construction of the clothes racks.

Cabinet de Curiosités.

The Screen which is constructed out of steel square hollow sections and maple wood veneer was exhibited in New York as part of Cabinet de Curiosités curated by brand guru Thomas Erber. 50 objects were selected and included unique pieces of art, design, apparel, jewellery and watchmaking.

[Images courtesy of Ciguë.]