SPACE October 2025 (No. 695)
©Kyungsub Shin
©Kyungsub Shin
(from top to bottom) Hermès Galleria West: façade, women’s zone, private room ©Kyungsub Shin
On Aug. 22, 2025, Hermès was delighted to announce the opening of its newly expanded and relocated store within the Galleria department store in Seoul’s renowned Apgujeong Rodeo area of Gangnam district. As of now, located in the Galleria West, the bright and harmonious space will offer a radiant new setting for the house’s sixteen métiers, celebrating craftsmanship while reaffirming Hermès’ local commitments.
The new store is wrapped in a striped trompe l’oeil of anodised metal inspired both by the country’s vivid dancheong decorative tradition and its contemporary aesthetic. The dynamic façade flows like a rhythmic audio file, drawing visitors into a lively environment inspired by the vibrant, high-energy pop world that emerged from this area, using playful pastels, bold neon, and striking contrasts.
As guests enter the colourful store, they discover fashion jewellery and fragrances, and they are welcomed by the house’s emblematic ex-libris, set into the signature terrazzo Faubourg pattern. A large space opens, like a nave, with the silk universe in the centre. To the right, men’s shoes and ready-to-wear are set against a striped wall of contrasting shades and hand-tufted carpets of concentric circles. Home and equestrian collections are encountered behind silk, linked by oversised pebble shapes in pastel terrazzo underfoot. Lively passages lead to the back of the store, where one encounters an immersive space illuminated by the emblematic Grecques lights, with shimmering teal walls and ombre carpets. Here, intimate areas unfold, offering leather goods collections on one side and jewellery and watches opposite. Combined with the private salon, the space dazzles with sleek metallic wooden walls. To the right, similar pebble-shaped carpets underpin the women’s ready-to-wear and shoes, where pastel blue terrazzo and glossy silk partitions create a soothing space for the collections.
Created by Parisian architecture agency RDAI, the store represents a playful dialogue between heritage and modernity. Drawing on the recurrent patterns of dancheong art, the vibrant décor is a celebration of Korea’s ancient artistic traditions and the vibrant work of the new generation. Local bespoke craft pieces including silk walls by Chang Eungbok and pleated paper lighting by Kwon Jungmo enrich this symphonic narrative.
The annual theme of 2025, ‘Drawn to Craft’, goes beyond lines and surfaces. The special window displays by Korean artist Lee Miju capture the quality of drawing by exploring creation through time, sensation and memory. As the store relocates, the two window scenes also take the viewer on a poetic journey that transforms details from daily life into evocative reflections on the possibility of a collective imagination.
Hermès invites loyal customers and new visitors to explore its timeless creations in a joyful atmosphere that reflects Seoul’s unique culture and the house’s craftsmanship.
