GVRNY Concept Store : The artisan village
The centre’s artisan village, has been developed in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (The CCI) and the Chamber of Crafts and Artisanship of the Eure (The CMA).
It bring together the best in art, culture and gastronomy in a celebration of local craftsmanship. This dedicated space put the spotlight on the region’s talent, nurturing its finest local creators and producers, creating a retail destination for the whole community.
GVRNY Concept Store offer a different French shopping experience that connects fashion and food with the region. Promoting local artisanship is an essential and unique part of the sustainable future of McArthurGlen Paris-Giverny.
The entire design as well as a major part of the concept have been developed by Mathieu Lehanneur, one of the few designers of his generation with a genuine multi-disciplinary approach to creativity: his projects stretch the realms of product design and object to architecture, craft and technology. Lehanneur thrives on creating spectacular projects that are intended to enchant and to encourage wellbeing. His work defies traditional descriptions of 'design', 'science' and 'art'.
He is described as the 'champion of intellectual agility in the field of contemporary design' by Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, MoMA-NY.
Treasures at GVRNY Concept Store
Mathieu Lehanneur
Let’s read his own words to describe the project:
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your project?
My name is Mathieu Lehanneur, I am an interior designer and I work on a wide spectrum of projects. The Maison des Métiers d’Art project came from McArthurGlen, who wanted to pay tribute to and reflect the vitality of craftsmanship in the Normandy and Eure region. The objective for me was to try not to freeze the place, neither as a gallery, nor as just a shop, to forget about the classic typologies and to try to make a real platform for exchanges between visitors of McArthurGlen Paris-Giverny and regional crafts. And try to get all these people to meet and really understand the richness of craftsmanship.
How would you describe the space?
Large tables like workbenches, a digital forest to discover local artisans, a glass auditorium to learn and discuss, suspended mirror discs to change your point of view… This new space dedicated to artisanal creation is unlike any other.
This is a hybrid place that stages and offers for sale a wide selection of pieces and crafts. La Maison des Métiers d’Art is a platform for promoting craftsmen from the Normandy region. In a process of supporting and highlighting the expertise of the region, McArthurGlen offers a unique opportunity to discover and acquire local and unique creations. This is about connecting know-how and showing it. In a large open space spread over two levels, visitors are invited to meet artisans, to discover their techniques and their production. A space dedicated to children will also offer workshops to raise awareness of techniques and art.
Pieces of great sophistication or everyday objects, each creation is unique because it comes directly from the hands of the craftsman.
How do you think this project will whet the curiosity of McArthurGlen Paris-Giverny guests?
There is a real appetite from visitors to understand what is behind a product. And there is a real appetite to change a status - I would say - a little passive of the consumer who sees something on a shelf and who takes it and buys it, towards something more active where yes, I will buy it , but I want to know what's behind it. I want to meet the person who produced it. I want to know how it's produced; I want to know how long it takes to make it.
