In the heart of the French capital, bordering the Seine, the iconic Parisian department store La Samaritaine reopened its doors recently after a prestigious ceremony hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Luxury goods conglomerate LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) owns the site and has poured nearly €500m (US$587.5m, £425.6m) into the project during a 15-year overhaul.
Situated between the Louvre and Notre-Dame, the building was built in 1870 and features a mixture of Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. La Samaritaine has since reopened as a DFS-operated luxury department store, offices and social housing units along with a decadent five-star hotel – operated by LVMH’s hotel brand, Cheval Blanc.
The 72-key Cheval Blanc Paris is home to a Dior Spa (another LVMH subsidiary) boasting six treatment rooms, each with a unique design influence and finish.
Designed by Peter Marino, the spa is inspired by the spirit of a Parisian apartment and includes a swimming pool encrusted with waves of handcrafted mosaics.
However, the jewel in La Samaritaine’s crown is its vast beauty wing – claimed to be Europe’s largest beauty floor in a department store – which is home to the new Spa Cinq Mondes à la Samaritaine.
Founded in 2001 by Jean-Louis Poiroux and Nathalie Bouchon-Poiroux, Cinq Mondes is a premium French skincare and spa brand found in 35 countries with a philosophy rooted in the duo’s shared passion for innovative, sustainable formulations and traditional medicines.
The new location is the brand’s second site in Paris, joining Cinq Mondes historic flagship which the couple opened after a two-year trip around the world to discover global beauty rituals.
Poiroux told Spa Business the vision for the new 400sq m spa was to “develop a unique urban spa retreat for both travellers and Parisians wanting to unwind amidst the bustle of the city”.
With its contemporary decor and refined styling, Spa Cinq Mondes à la Samaritaine has been realised by Suprem Architectures as a place of healing with a unique personality.
Each of the seven treatment rooms – including one for couples – has been completed with a backlit feature wall reminiscent of Art Deco stained glass.
Poiroux says all facilities – including a hammam, double exfoliation room and private relaxation areas with views of the interior garden – have been conceived to create an immersive healing journey in the heart of Paris.
Spa rituals include a selection of massages, scrubs, wraps, facials and hammam treatments drawing on global healing techniques from places such as Japan, India and China.
In addition, Cinq Mondes has curated an exclusive treatment for the new opening, called The Great Ritual from Okinawa to revitalise the body and naturally lift and sculpt the face. The €124 (US$147, £106) experience lasts 50 minutes and includes a thorough traditional Japanese ko bi do facial and amma back massage.
The new spa also includes a 100sq m retail boutique with delicate metallic design details and a palette of warm pastel tones.
Complete with illuminated alcoves showcasing Cinq Mondes’ products, the retail space has been conceived to guide guests on a journey of discovery to create their own personalised routine. Here, they can also find an interactive table to help them independently explore the range.
“This opening is really exciting for Cinq Mondes, since La Samaritaine is a space of such unprecedented magnitude in Europe,” Poiroux says.
“After winning a very competitive tender for designing and operating the spa, our new facility benefits from a unique and exciting space which perfectly showcases our beauty rituals and skincare range.”
