Streetwear brand Kith has launched its first European flagship within a historic structure located in the heart of Paris’ Golden Triangle. The launch of the sleek retail space, its largest to date, marks its sixth collaboration with New York-based design firm Snarkitecture. “Each project we have designed for Kith has been specifically adapted to its context and site, while maintaining aspects of the core design language that have become integral to the visual and architectural identity of Kith,” says Snarkitecture associate Alexander Buckeridge. “New elements such as wood, molding ,and Venetian plaster have been introduced to create an environment that resonates with the historic context of the building and the city of Paris.”
Spread across 16,000 square feet, the flagship features Kith signatures, like plaster cast sneakers that line the Carrara marble-lined entryway’s barrel-vaulted ceiling. Carrara, a key native element in the materiality, also lines the restored staircase that links the ground floor to the first floor. The men’s apparel space is outfitted with walnut panels and brass racks, while the adjacent women’s section is clad with custom walnut and a Carrara staircase that leads to a mirrored room laid with multicolored herringbone marble floors. An incubation gallery is housed in the basement, which will showcase a revolving array of immersive and experiential touchpoints.
Colorful Carrara tiles also cover the floor of the glass-covered courtyard, which includes a green wall designed by botanist Patrick Blanc. “The central courtyard space is the heart of the project,” Buckeridge adds. “The renovated atrium roof allows light to spill into the spaces below while the lush living green wall signals new life. These natural features are visible from every space bringing the multiple programs together.” Adjacent to the courtyard is the Kith for Sadelle’s restaurant—the first international outpost of the New York culinary staple. A parlor-style concept, Kith Treats, is also housed onsite, detailed with stainless steel, Carrara marble, and a cereal canister wall.
