La Samaritaine
© Julien Alma Société, Doug & Wolf

Coronavirus: the opening of La Samaritaine postponed

In view of the current health crisis and the shutdowns of constructions sites in France, La Samaritaine could not celebrate the opening of its department store in April. With the investment of €750 million, 15 years of construction, the project is one of the most eagerly-awaited in Paris.

© Cyrille Thomas pour Sanaa | LVMH

The department store side with the ultra-modern facade on Rue de Rivoli, designed by the Japanese agency  Sanaa, will host a selection of no less than 600 brands combining fashion, art of living and gastronomy. On the opposite end of the structure – a luxury Cheval Blanc hotel will host 72 rooms and suites with a view of the Seine. Finally, in between, a space with offices covering 15,000 m2, a crèche with 80 beds and 97 social housing units managed by France Habitat will complete the project.

© Sanaa

“We were a month and a half away from the end of the construction site. We have been going back to work for a few days. Businesses must re-mobilize. And we now have to adapt to the requirement for barrier gestures and the new safety equipment that is required,” said LVMH to Le Parisien.

At this point in time, LVMH hopes to open La Samaritaine by summer, without giving the exact date. Moreover, the ongoing sanitary restrictions oblige the group to adapt the layout of the establishment, in particular by enlarging its aisles to allow social distancing.