Hermès Sèvres, the remarkable boutique tucked inside a former Art Deco swimming pool in Paris

Hermès Sèvres is unlike any other Hermès boutique. Set inside a former Art Deco swimming pool that’s a listed building, the address fuses leather goods, silk, design and heritage in a décor that, on its own, justifies a visit.

On the Left Bank, Le Bon Marché remains one of the quartier's premier shopping destinations, while Ralph Lauren Saint-Germain showcases its world inside a genuine brand flagship. Hermès, for its part, has decided to dive in. At 17 rue de Sèvres, just steps from Sèvres-Babylone, the house has occupied since 2010 the former Lutetia swimming pool, built in 1935 and listed as a historic monument. A decided Art Deco setting that’s rather unexpected for admiring the space before even glancing at a square of silk.

The transformation entrusted to RDAI works with the existing architecture rather than erasing it behind the racks. Mosaïques, piliers et ancien bassin still tell the building’s first life as you walk through this roughly 1 500 m² shop. In the center, three large structures in bois de frêne tressé rise within the volumes and guide the path without closing it off. The renovation completed in 2021 added new contemporary interventions, including a monumental fresco by Matthieu Cossé spread across two levels.

On the shopping front, the venue brings together a wide range of Hermès crafts: leather goods, silk, equestrian, women's and men's ready-to-wear, shoes, jewelry, watches, accessories and perfumes. Handbags and the famous scarves remain among the brand’s most sought-after signatures, but Sèvres also reserves a special place for Petit h. Launched in 2010, this craft gives new life to materials drawn from the house’s other savoir-faire, from leather to silk, through distinctive objects.

The tour also continues with Chaîne d’Encre, the café-bookshop perched above the old basin. Books, objects and a gourmet break take the place of the collections, in the same homey spirit. You can simply drop in for a break and enjoy the setting, without necessarily coming to shop.

Hermès Sèvres isn’t a museum, but the place almost looks the part. The décor alone makes 17 rue de Sèvres a destination in its own right, even if you don’t buy anything. Step in, and you’ll walk out with a beautiful find—even if you came just to peek!