The mysterious Faubourg 24 roof garden of the Parisian Hermès boutique, as an inspiration for the spring window displays in Vienna and Prague.
Client
Hermès
Realization
spring 2024
What do we do with the apple tree? So I went back to the terrace and told the apple tree.
“If you don’t produce apples, I’ll cut you down!” The following spring, the tree produced hundreds of blossoms – though in the end only one apple grew.
I thought it was a very funny tree, and I also told the apple tree, “You have a sense of humor. I’m not going to cut you down.” It has produced apples every year since.
– Yasmine, Hermès gardener
High above the windows of the Parisian Hermès boutique at Faubourg Saint-Honoré 24 is a secret plant paradise overlooking the rooftops of the central Paris. “Jardin sur le toit” – A secret roof garden that few have seen with their own eyes.
We therefore wanted to imagine it so that we could all take a look at it, at least for a while.
An oasis of greenery and fragrance, where the noise of traffic is far away and replaced by the singing of birds.
“A garden that can whisper, it’s up to you if you can listen properly”
For Hermès’ spring window displays, we captured the atmosphere of the roof garden at 24 rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré, which has been maintained by gardener Yasmine for 20 years. The scenes represent the journey of the apple tree, which is characteristic of the roof garden and is linked to many stories. The subtle metal structures tell the story of the plants growing high above the Parisian rooftops, so like Yasmine, we have given each plant special care in the form of special finishes such as flocking or decorative grinding on stainless steel. Everything takes place against a cushioned backdrop that references the architecture of the garden and the geometrically trimmed bushes.
Photography
Honza Zima