At the heart of the gallery’s design philosophy is the incorporation of artworks as intrinsic, built-in elements woven into the space, a curatorial approach first implemented in the flagship Paris location. In the spacious entrance space for example, which was conceived as a buffer between the bustling Mercer Street and the peaceful main gallery space, an oval-shaped, cast-bronze floor inlay designed by the architects is cusped by a custom sinuous bench crafted by the designer Linde Freya Tangelder (Destroyers Builders studio) in solid timber and cast bronze. A gravity-defying vertical sculpture by the entrance, fashioned from stacked ceramic elements by artist Lili Delaroque, adds to the space’s intrigue, as does the door to the main space which is seductively framed by two curved walls topped by a brass slab.

Bathed in soft swaths of light thanks to large skylights and windows at the back and punctuated by cast-iron Corinthian columns, a characteristic feature of SoHo’s architectural heritage, the gallery’s double-height open-plan main space is impressive in size yet welcoming in ambience. On the one side, an art wall guides visitors through the space, past a sitting area featuring a ceramic carpet inlay by Heloise Bariol and a bespoke sofa by French designer trio Pierre Augustin Rose. A sinuous, floor-to-ceiling, brass chainmail curtain bisecting the space leads to a second sitting area and a more intimate pool table area which is separated by a curved partition wall that incorporates a monumental, lattice-like sculpture by Gerd Kanz.

A kitchen and dining area tucked under the mezzanine level underscore that this is not a typical gallery experience. Centred on a large, square-shaped marble table, the dining space also features an art installation composed of distressed mirror panels by artist Boldizar Senteski. As Amélie du Chalard explains, the gallery is “a lively space that doesn’t intimidate the viewer and instead acts as a source of inspiration”. Accessed through an intricately carved oak double door, the work of artist Eloi Schultz, an expansive storage area that houses the gallery’s constantly evolving art collection provides further inspiration, ensuring that visitors have a fresh and unique experience each time they visit.