A journey for discovering Maison de Champagne Ruinart

Recently opened at Maison Ruinart’s historic location at 4 Rue des Crayères, Reims, Pavillon Nicolas Ruinart takes visitors on a journey to discover this famous champagne brand, the oldest in the world.

Working with Frederic Dufour, CEO of Ruinart, designer Gwenael Nicolas, who heads the Curiosity studio, has created a space for an exclusive experience inside the glass and local stone pavilion designed by Sou Fujimoto. Nicolas Ruinart Pavillon sits in scenic parkland, created by landscape designer Christophe Gautrand and dotted with artworks.

Built alongside the historic 19th-century castle, the new pavilion lies at the end of a path carved into the limestone. The material is a tribute to the site’s crayères, the ancient chalk caves used by the Ruinart family as cellars and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.

With its asymmetrical shape, the building’s glass façade grows increasingly transparent from top to bottom, hinting at the appearance of champagne in a glass.

Conceived as a winter garden, the interior guides visitors through a forest of effervescent beads that rise from the floor and trail off towards the ceiling, communicating the distinctive aesthetic of the brand in an essential but luminous way while creating strong emotional impact.

© Chloé Le Reste, courtesy of Curiosity

 

The different areas reveal themselves gradually as visitors move through the space, with the poetic and slender installations leading them from the reception counter to the boutique and then on to the champagne bar.

Sited in the center of the pavilion, the bar counter is a focal point. Its ethereal glass shapes are echoed by glass petals that float above the furniture, a reference to the effervescence of champagne, as if the bubbles were escaping from the glass and freezing in mid-air. This interplay of transparent and light materials creates a cheerful yet elegant atmosphere. The bar extends outside onto a spacious curved terrace that blends into the green landscape.

© Kristen Pelou, courtesy of Curiosity

 

To the rear, a private dining room, hidden behind a curtain of woven silver threads, adds a touch of mystery and intimacy. The furniture is comfortable and creates a welcoming atmosphere, accentuated by a soft color palette that’s reminiscent of the colors of champagne.

One side of the pavilion is a space for discovering the winemaker’s products, which are presented in an original way in a large timber bookcase that highlights the uniqueness and character of the cuvées. At the center of the boutique, an intriguing sculptural composition of upside-down champagne bottles is reflected in the mirrored ceiling, creating an optical illusion.

Pavillon Nicolas Ruinart offers an immersive journey through the heritage of the Maison. The project’s name is a tribute to the founder, Nicolas Ruinart, who began producing vin de bulles in 1729, bringing to fruition the vision of his uncle, Benedictine monk Dom Thierry Ruinart.

The interiors of Pavillon Nicolas Ruinart create an experience that instils a positive vision of the future through a delicate balance of innovation and tradition. Innovation is also represented by the façades, with the front of the pavilion glazed in contemporary style, and the sides, made of Soissons stone, referencing the history of the place.

 

>>> Curiosity’s interior projects include the design of the Graff jewelry boutique

 

© Kristen Pelou, courtesy of Curiosity

© Kristen Pelou, courtesy of Curiosity