Snøhetta designs first store for skincare brand Typology in Paris

Snøhetta has designed the new space for French natural skincare brand Typology of the esteemed department store le Printemps Haussmann, located in the heart of Paris. Typology’s distinct and unique raw aluminum packaging inspired the store's artistic direction.

The 33m2 Snøhetta designed Typology space opened at the end of April and marks a milestone for the brand which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. The corner space is located on the ground floor of Printemps de la Beauté, surrounded by historic French brands.

Natural Materials

In its five years, Typology has become known for its wide range of high-quality products based on natural ingredients – a philosophy the brand has translated to its packaging through the use of raw aluminum. For the space, Snøhetta has drawn inspiration from the brand's packaging design and incorporating undulations in the metal form at the heart of the space, reminiscent of the way the product wrinkles after use.

Before the opening of the permanent space, Snøhetta and Danish Natural Material Studio designed and developed a Typology pop-up store at the main entrance of Printemps Haussmann woman. This space was created to give visitors a taste of Typology's first permanent physical expression.

The installation is built on a concept of Japanese theatre play projecting the Typology skincare onto the Natural Material Studio's own bio textiles and designing bespoke display objects for Typology’s products. These materials are made using a unique molding technique and process called Procel – a composition of natural polymers based on proteins, natural softener, reishi mushroom, and chalk. The result is individual works that are rich in texture and visually intriguing. The material is natural, biodegradable, and compostable at home and can be remelted.

Collaboration

As a transdisciplinary practice, collaboration is at the heart of every Snøhetta project. Furthermore, material exploration is an essential part of Snøhetta’s processes, so the collaboration with Natural Material Studio and Typology created the perfect symbioses for this project. The result is a natural, holistic concept that captures the essence of the three brands.

"Snøhetta Studio Paris are honored to have the opportunity to design the first physical retail space for Typology. Although Snøhetta has a long experience in retail design worldwide, this is also a first for Snøhetta’s Paris studio. We hope this will be the beginning of a long relationship with Typology and we wish them well on this launch. This project also shows our constant desire to collaborate. We found the perfect harmony between material and concept by working with Natural Material Studio. The corner and the pop-up emphasize materiality, not fussy detailing, in line with Typology's natural approach", says Oliver Page, managing Director, Snøhetta Paris The team worked closely with both Typology and Natural Material throughout the process.

 "Typology is a digital brand, and this first step with Printemps marks a turning point for deployment in physical retail. We will work with a limited number of partners who understand our long-term intentions, complementing our digital sales channel, which will remain our strength", says Ning Li, founder of Typology

“With our cross-disciplinary and systemic way of working, we aim to bring the human-nature collaboration to the forefront to set the agenda for how we believe art, technology, and science should synergize”, says Bonnie Hvillum, founder of Natural Material Studio

Photo credit: Courtesy of Typlogy

Download high-res images here

About Typology

Typology is a French skincare brand born in Paris in 2019, founded by Ning Li. Instead of asking what could be added to make products stand out, Typology sought what could be removed, to keep only the essential: natural active ingredients that have real skin benefits. Typology formulas are concise and concentrated in effective actives.

Ingredients are sustainably sourced, and 100% of formulas are developed and manufactured in France. Most products contain over 95% naturally derived ingredients. The brand is certified by PETA and B-Corp.

Since 2021, Typology has been voted the best-selling skincare brand online in France*.

*Source: Fox Intelligence Study - Online Beauty Market in France - November 22, 2021.

About Natural Material Studio

Natural Material Studio aims to transform the discourse of design for equal synergies between human, nature and space. Through materials, the studio is proposing a new design typology and terminology based on systemic methodologies.

With a multi-disciplinary and award-winning team in Copenhagen, Denmark, our creative studio operates in a cross section of art, design, research and architecture with installations, works, commissions and consultancy, centered around their own, bio-based materials.

Over the years the studio has worked with clients such as Adidas, Noma and Calvin Klein with commissions and collaborations ranging from Design Museum Denmark to Snøhetta. The studio was awarded for their large-scale installation HUMAN NATURE last year during 3 days of Design at Copenhagen Contemporary in Denmark, and has exhibited during Milan Design Week and Design Miami, as well as other venues. ​ ​
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Camille Henry

Communication Manager, Snøhetta Paris

 

 

 

 

 

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About Snøhetta

For almost 40 years, Snøhetta has designed some of the world’s most notable public and cultural projects. Snøhetta kick-started its career in 1989 with the competition-winning entry for the new library of Alexandria, Egypt. This was later followed by the commission for the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in Oslo, and the National September 11 Memorial Museum Pavilion at the World Trade Center in New York City, among many others. 

Since its inception, the practice has maintained its original transdisciplinary approach, and often integrates a combination of architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, product design and art across its projects. The collaborative nature between Snøhetta's different disciplines is an essential driving force of the practice.

Today, Snøhetta has a global presence, with studios in seven locations spanning from Oslo to Paris, Innsbruck, New York, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Melbourne.

Snøhetta is currently working on a wide range of international projects, including the Shanghai Grand Opera House, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Dakota, Harbourside redevelopment in Sydney and La Croisette in Cannes, to name a few. 

Recently completed works include Vertikal Nydalen in Oslo, Beijing City Library, the renovation of Musée national de la Marine in Paris, Orionis - the planetarium and observatory of Douai, Airside in Hong Kong, Esbjerg Maritime Center in Denmark, 550 Madison Garden and Revitalization in New York, as well as Volum lamps for Lodes.

Some of Snøhetta's previous projects include Ordrupgaard Art Museum expansion in Denmark, the Cornell University Executive Education Center and Hotel in New York City, Le Monde Group Headquarters in Paris, including the wayfinding and signage, Europe’s first underwater restaurant, Under, the redesign of the public space in Times Square, the expansion to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Lascaux IV: The International Centre for Cave Art, Powerhouse Brattørkaia and design for Norway’s new banknotes.

Snøhetta’s working method simultaneously explores traditional handicraft and cutting-edge digital technology. At the heart of all Snøhetta’s work lies a commitment to social and environmental sustainability, shaping the built environment and design in the service of humanism. Every project is designed with strong, meaningful concepts in mind – concepts that can translate the ethos of its users and their context.

Among many recognitions, Snøhetta has been awarded the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award for the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the Aga Kahn Prize for Architecture for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. In 2016, Snøhetta was named Wall Street Journal Magazine's Architecture Innovator of the Year, and the practice has been named one of the world’s most innovative companies by Fast Company two years in a row. In 2020, Snøhetta was awarded the National Design Award for Architecture, bestowed by Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. In 2021 and 2022, Snøhetta’s Forite tiles won the Sustainable Design of the Year by Dezeen and Best Domestic Design by Wallpaper* in 2022, and the wayfinding system for Le Monde Group Headquarters was acknowledged with Monocle Design Awards. In 2023, Snøhetta won a number of awards for the Esbjerg Maritime Center and was named Architects of the Year at the Monocle Design Awards, in 2024 included a number of awards to Beijing Library and the BIA 2024 Award to Snøhetta and in 2025, Snøhetta was recognized with the OPAL Special Award for Sustainability, among others. 

Disclaimer: All materials provided by Snøhetta are intended exclusively for editorial use to communicate the specified project(s). The use of this material for commercial or third-party purposes is strictly prohibited. No material may be edited or altered from its original state in any manner. Credit must be given for all content used, acknowledging Snøhetta and/or the photographer or creator as the source. By using Snøhetta's press material, you agree to these terms and conditions.

 

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