Hermès Maison Shanghai
One of only five Hermès Maisons around the world, the luxury accessories brand’s Shanghai outpost is housed in an early-20th-century brick building on Middle Huaihai Road. It took six years to restore this landmark, with architects RDAI – which has collaborated with Hermès on its stores since 1976 – once again at the helm. There are Venetian plaster walls, gauzy curtains and a sinuous staircase to unite the floors; the building is presented as a series of rooms to show off the brand’s various specialities, such as the leather lounge, with its walls lined in dark taupe leather. Local craftsmanship is not neglected and includes carpets in Chinese wool and silk.
Photography: Masao Nishikawa