Michel Vivien Boutique in Paris by Sophie Dries.

It is in the prestigious Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré that shoemaker Michel Vivien has chosen to open his unique Parisian address. He entrusted this very personal project to the local architect Sophie Dries to create a space for his singular universe.

From this conversation was born a place with unexpected contours, honouring in the tradition of craftsmanship and noble materials.

A generous 15-meter timber wave softly delineates the double-height volume of the 100-square-metre store. A purist mezzanine level hints at additional secret space, while the checkout counter is carved as a veil covered in hand-applied gold leaf.

The famed shoemaker’s collections are presented on a modular set of solid wooden shelves—each hand-moulded by a cabinetmaker, they appear to be levitating on a chalk-rendered wall. Sophie Dries worked with skilled craftsmen and master glassmakers from Murano on the free-form glass wall lights secured by brass rivets.

The ochre-treated concrete floor recalls the workshop spirit in which Michel Vivien and his teamwork to create his collections. The timber-framed mirrors, hand-carved by a Parisian cabinetmaker and patinated with gold leaf, are placed against the walls in a monumental version.

A series of solid timber totem tables punctuate the space as display for shoes or serving as occasional tables. Lighting fixtures in gilded metal by Philippe Hiquily from Gastou Gallery are a direct reference to the world of femininity.

Vintage furniture has been selected by Gilbert Kann, pursuing the idea of a timeless French spirit. Pieces like solid wood stools by Pierre Chapo, a monumental glass chandelier, geometrical armchairs in 70s velvet, wooden totems sourced from Michael Voseller gallery, and industrial DCW lights by Jacques Biny or Charlotte Perriand feature in the store.

Reflecting both Michel Vivien’s and Sophie Dries’ attachment to natural materials and the use of traditional techniques, everything in this interior was hand-made for the project. Their shared ethic and the love of artisanal work with an emphasis on honest materials creates a certain kind of synergy in the interior.

Related: A Slice of Paris in Amsterdam: Family Office by Framework Studio.

[Images courtesy of Sophie Dries. Photography by Valerio Geraci.]