studio briand & berthereau combines terracotta, raw concrete + wood in parisian bookstore

multidisciplinary studio briand & berthereau has completed ICI, the largest independent bookstore to open in paris since 20 years. spanning over 500 sqm, the shop includes a café, a children’s’ area, an exhibition space, and an agora (originally the central public spaces in ancient greek cities) with parts in terracotta, for people to gather and exchange opinions. despite the heavy program, the entire space feels fluid and lightweight due to a layout of clear and pure shapes which are combined with simple and durable design elements.

all photos courtesy of studio briand & berthereau

”less is more” is the philosophy we applied to our work during this whole adventure,’ explains studio briand & berthereau, who was responsible for the architecture, visual identity, and signage of ICI. a natural palette composed of terracotta, rough concrete and wood binds the different spaces of the bookstore together, along with a chevron ceramic floor whose stoneware slates combine various colors and get more dense around the main parts of the shop.

the parisian studio has used natural beech wood for the book displays of the store, which include large shelves and modular tables fixed on wheels to move whenever a special event takes place. metal stands attached to the tables are used to highlight the latest book releases, while shelves underneath offer plenty of storage space.

visible from the street, the bookstore’s coutume café combines a large countertop and comfortable banquettes in the middle of the beaux arts and literature sections. the underground level hosts the human sciences, comics and paper departments together with the children’s area, and an exhibition space to promote young artists. there, a modular seating system is designed to be used in different ways depending on the type of events that the bookstore will host. the children’s area is created like two parenthesis, enclosing kids in a cocoon of intimacy and comfort where they can relax with a nice book.