From Russia with love

By Alex Jordan 27 : 05 : 2016 Russia : Department Store : Interior Design

Saint Petersburg – The Au Pont Rouge department store has been restored to its former glory.

The Art Nouveau building once counted the Romanov family among its patrons
Marques’Almeida, Études Studio, Christopher Ræburn and Maison Margiela are part of the retail mix

Architects Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands has unveiled its renovation of one of the country’s most iconic retail destinations. The firm collaborated with New York architect Rafael de Cárdenas to refurbish the store’s third and fourth floors.

Cárdenas has subverted the traditional department store format by placing the changing rooms in the centre of the open-plan space. A series of circular areas further punctuate the space and will host pop-up exhibitions and more unusual offers such as tattoo parlours and barber shops.

Constructed in 1906, the Au Pont Rouge was the retail destination of choice for Russia’s elite, but closed its doors following the Russian Revolution and re-emerged as a sewing factory in 1919.

Now, more than a century since it first opened, the department store is back as a lifestyle destination for the discerning shoppers of Saint Petersburg.

The Big Picture

Young retail brands are injecting mischief and playfulness into their bricks-and-mortar stores. To find out more, read our Retail Futures 2016 report.