Buren at Rougier&Plé

Established in the Marais district since 1897, Rougier&Plé, founded in 1854, celebrated its 170th anniversary last year. For the occasion, the institution dedicated to fine arts and creative leisure entrusted the creation of its new facade to global star Daniel Buren.

Postcard showing the Rougier&Plé, boulevard des Filles du Calvaire

This choice celebrates the 170th anniversary of this iconic store in the world of fine arts and reflects its deep connection to artistic creation while marking a significant visual shift. This choice also sends a strong message to the enthusiasts, both professional and amateur artists, who make up the loyal Rougier&Plé community.

The visual artist, a central figure in the conceptual movement, designed a façade punctuated by a play of white and colored stripes, integrated into the windows with red, yellow and blue filters, in order to link history, artistic creation and the visual identity of the store.

Facade of the Rougier@Plé, boulevard des Filles du Calvaire

His work finds its origin in the very shape of the building. Buren explains that the entire project was designed with inspiration from the triangle formed by the capital, that is, the pointed top of the house.

While the name Daniel Buren is usually associated with controversy, one thinks of the French artist's creation in 1985 when he erected the Buren Columns at the Palais-Royal, this is not the case for this façade.

It must be said that the work of this visual artist, who constantly questions the relationship between art, space, and the viewer's gaze, has now become iconic. His stylistic signature is both a sensory experience and a visual tool of disconcerting simplicity and rigor.

The two trays or “Buren columns”, Daniel Buren, Palais-Royal, photo: Palais Royal

Among his major works are, besides the famous Two Trays at the Palais-Royal (Paris) 1985, called “Buren columns” by the general public, the colored glass roof of the Grand Palais for Monumenta (2012), “Axer / Désaxer” in Naples, the “Place des Arts” metro station in Montreal.

Before Rougier&Plé and its 50 references, this 000 m800 building welcomed prestigious tenants. These included the famous Chevallier brand, the optical precision instrument manufacturers Molteni, and then Radiguet and Massiot, manufacturers of optics, electrical and photographic equipment.