The project began when Unibox was contacted by Reda Slaoui, Sephora’s Director of Architecture and Design, regarding the renovation programme for the listed building, to ask if the firm could make the vision of a thematic canopy a reality after seeing a bespoke Unibox design manufactured for a development in London.

While Unibox adopted and developed the concept for manufacturing, Intecho’s brief was to devise and implement a comprehensive arrangement of lighting controls, featuring its DALI DIMMING system for precise and dynamic lighting management, for both the canopy and the lighting throughout the rest of the store.

The 82m canopy is capable of multiple thematic animations, such as mesmerising black and white Sephora stripes that chime with its brand image, as well as a rainbow LGBT Pride and red, white and blue Bastille Day-themed displays among others. New animations can be designed remotely and uploaded to the Paris store from the UK.

Paul Murphy, Intecho’s director and co-founder, who was present at the store for the key final testing and VIP opening, says: “The end result is stunning. The first thing everybody did when they walked into the store was to look up at the canopy. It breathes life into the space, creating a perfect ambiance for everyone who enters.

“We were thrilled to collaborate with Unibox and Sephora, leaving an indelible mark on their flagship store. The vision for this project was to elevate the visitor experience through innovative technology solutions. This project has set a new global standard for luxury shopping.”