Step Inside the New Acne Studios Paris Headquarters
Located in a former 1930s-built laboratory on Rue des Petites Écuries.
Summary
- Acne Studios opened a new Paris headquarters in a former 1930s laboratory
- The design, conceived by Acne Studios creative director Jonny Johansson and Swedish design studio Halleroed, blends the building’s original features with stark, modern elements
- The centerpiece is a monumental pink vinyl sofa by Max Lamb
Acne Studios has inaugurated its new Paris headquarters in a former 1930s-built laboratory on Rue des Petites Écuries. The space, conceived by Acne Studios creative director Jonny Johansson and Swedish design studio Halleroed, is a meticulous blend of historic preservation and modern design. The project’s ethos was to embrace the building’s original beauty with minimal intervention, creating a unique dialogue between old and new.
“Our main focus was to respect the history of the space while bringing in a fresh, modern energy,” says Johansson. “The building itself has this incredible architectural presence – it’s filled with stories, and you can feel that when you walk through the rooms. We didn’t want to strip that away. Instead, we wanted to create a kind of dialogue between the past and present, allowing the original structure to guide us.”
The headquarters, which are centered around a courtyard, feature carefully restored original details like gold-painted moldings and parquet flooring. This is juxtaposed with new additions, like a pink vinyl Max Lamb sofa that serves as a centerpiece, and a raw concrete showroom with a vaulted glass-tiled ceiling. The new elements are designed to feel “inserted rather than integrated,” creating a stark contrast with the historic atmosphere. The result is a space that embodies the brand’s creative vision while honoring its historical home.
