A large loft on two floors, a stone's throw from the historic headquarters of the Bibliothèque nationale and two from the Bourse: the Atelier Richelieu holds a unique place in the catalogue of Parisian events. As soon as you enter the courtyard at 60, rue de Richelieu, you realise that you're in for a treat. A seventeenth-century mansion, enlarged in the nineteenth century to house the printing works for the magazine L'Illustration, the place has patina and cachet.
Beautiful glass roofs, big white walls, parquet floors that are maintained down to the last reflection, all in the heart of Paris: the offer is attractive and the place is now occupied 170 to 180 days a year, attracting the favour of the fashion world in particular. Dior and Longchamp have used it as a showroom after their fashion shows, or for product launches. Sequoia has organised a cocktail party there. And photographer Mario Testino has taken advantage of the space and light to shoot for Lancôme and Stefanel. But fashion is not the only thing that attracts clients, and the Atelier Richelieu has also been called on to organise events for major retailers (Monoprix, La Redoute, Trois Suisses) and a long procession of other references: GDF, SNCF, Microsoft, Nikon, Sony...
Authentic and original
What brands come here for: authenticity and originality in the centre of Paris, but also the flexibility of a place where, as we used to say at Club Med, "everything is on offer but nothing is imposed".
"Our aim was to offer a very neutral space so that customers could interpret it in their own way, without any service providers being imposed on them", confirms Benoît Louazel, who is overseeing the destiny of the Atelier Richelieu on behalf of the Tervaux group. No furniture, no decorative pomp, no over-equipping: the Atelier is designed to be reinterpreted by the customer and to inspire boldness. One chose to cover the walls with red drapes to transform the first floor into a soft canvas cocoon. Another transforms the ground floor into a Japanese restaurant. So anything is possible, as long as you keep to opening hours (8am-11pm).
Particularly as there is plenty of space: almost 700 m2 on two floors. "We've got volume, but we're not lost in space either," says Benoît Louazel. These contrasting dimensions have enabled the Atelier Richelieu to attract the attention of arty fair organisers. "Of course, it's in the courtyard, which means you have to make an effort with signage. But it's also a guarantee of peace and quiet, and the architecture is exceptional, with a nice variety between the more loft-like ground floor and the cosier, more 'salon' first floor," explains Cécile Griesmar, organiser of Chic Dessin. This contemporary drawing fair, which takes place every spring at the Atelier, also benefits from the proximity of the Palais Brongniart, where the major Salon du Dessin is taking place at the same time. "This makes it easier for us to attract collectors. Generally speaking, they don't know the place before they come, but they leave delighted", confirms Cécile Griesmar, who has already renewed her contract with the Atelier Richelieu for the 2011 edition. It's the perfect opportunity to see the place for yourself, in complete discretion.
Practical information
Atelier Richelieu
60 rue de Richelieu, 75002 Paris
Tel.: 01 42 33 01 64
Internet : www.atelierrichelieu.com
Two Floors :
Ground floor (350 m2 usable) and first floor (320 m2). Capacity announced for 250 to 300 people per floor. A virtual tour is available on the site's home page.
