Sebastien Segers

Azzedine Alaïa is one of Marc Newson’s friends. He also is a collector of his art works. Azzedine Alaïa has given him “carte blanche” to decorate a shoes and accessories shop in small premises located on the ground floor of his Town house in the 4th arrondissement in Paris. This area is quite private and has a show window opening on to the street. One reaches this area through the main shop.

The basic idea is typical of the work of Sébastien Segers: a hollowed and sculpted solid volume disclosing a pure space. In this instance, he has managed to fit a cylinder shape in a room of irregular dimensions. This Carrare white marble grotto has a soft and elegant surface. Two main blocks have been sculpted and offer a bench covered with six leather cushions screwed directly on to the stone. The ceiling is custom made fibrous plaster. The laser cut brass ceiling fitting featuring a reactor, recurrent in the works of Newson, diffuses a soft light showing the concentric ceiling pattern.

Twelve recessed holes are provided in the walls of the shop for the display of shoes as if they were jewelry. Bruno Domeau and Philippe Péreès, the saddlers have upholstered each of them with calf leather, in strong contrast with the marble, as if it was skin. The limited number of materials and the absence of extra furniture enhance the power feeling of the premises. Each item of the Project, including the brass screws and buttons, is designed and custom made for the shop. This is a custom made temple with a minimalist sculpture, in accordance with the work of the dressmaker.