Workshop-shop « Au Carré Saint-Louis »

The project involves the complete transformation of a commercial unit into a ceramic workshop-shop, in the heart of the Carré Saint-Louis in Versailles, within a listed building. The intervention covers both the restoration of the shop front and the full recomposition of the interior spaces, to combine craft production, retail and public reception.

The existing wooden shop front was restored and repainted, in keeping with the architectural language of the heritage site. The design, proportions and mouldings were preserved, while restoring legibility and coherence to the whole.

Inside, a partition was removed to enlarge the retail space and provide an immediate reading of the place from the entrance. The project is organised around two clearly identifiable zones: – a retail space, visible from the street, – a production space, deliberately open, allowing visitors to observe the ceramist at work.

The workshop is designed as a functional working tool, organised according to the different stages of creation: recycling and preparation of clay, throwing, modelling and decoration, glazing, firing. A drying area is set up at the back of the unit, fitted with numerous shelving units. A sink is integrated into the workshop, with a settling tank to prevent clogging of the wastewater system.

The existing floor covering was replaced by a flexible wood-look PVC floor, chosen for its durability and ease of daily maintenance, while bringing a warm atmosphere to the whole space.

All the furniture is custom-designed: shelving, display units, reception counter, workbenches. These elements structure the uses while asserting a sober style, suited to showcasing the ceramic pieces.

Upstairs, a rest area and a storage space are created for fired pieces, raw materials, packaging and previous collections.

The project allows the craftsperson to produce, exhibit, sell and pass on skills in one place: public reception, events, classes and workshops (up to six workstations), in a legible, functional space consistent with the heritage context.