![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7WJNTAJUDKDBO6YD5GDI4BHS5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=261fbae537c3296376502ce012cc465b8a5f970923d067d5cff208ebba220fb9&width=400&height=225)
A scale model sits on display inside the Samaritaine department store. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XDLYFP2EVH7PEWPOMERIG2DBYY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8893ef44c3c1b31798bd7717e592b6e1899c8cefff94b1a21f02cec1fbd7cb9d&width=400&height=225)
Concrete paving slabs sit stacked outside the Samaritaine department store during ongoing renovation work in Paris. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KAHIDWD2T5TCZBRX5XTBA25F4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e7064b3f7600127197f65bb333c911aa49446ef75c3715be38db870bf8f6b3f&width=400&height=225)
The grand staircase connects retail floors areas inside the Samaritaine department store, during ongoing renovation work in Paris. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5NZJALMO5DZN2ZDJCAB2SIRDYA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4f82237eced636955f570d13969850b68dae97464b9b9f6fad27384bffc29edc&width=400&height=225)
Wrought-iron balconies and banisters stand on the grand staircase beneath the glass roofed atrium of the Samaritaine department store. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OY5UCLXXFHIGOOKDDDCXWQTUOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=afaef2540025a357fa3d42f2b87fc361a0c84f893a2915ab8160d00e0df0819f&width=400&height=225)
Wrought-iron balconies and banisters stand on the grand staircase in the atrium of the Samaritaine department store. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FKZ3HIMZOHKANEXWMWRBOSXWFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f42b0ba3d4cc077561a7317c815208b4ed50486a51802723c1119d03e16ecd72&width=400&height=225)
Cosmetic sales signs sit in a beauty product retail area inside the Samaritaine department store during renovation works. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XNDAXVKV5SO4GEQ5HK4EE4VEEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a17b81f8852443a27d3cdda5f583473e06ed94f09bbac4e852435dab04e72569&width=400&height=225)
Gold mosaic tiles adorn metalwork panels in the atrium inside the Samaritaine. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LYOUAHKIHAJI3DGEIRRZ6JHIJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a5e285e974f52e4a1820527d0f2e2f89ff50b80523b3086d63cbb4280497410&width=400&height=225)
Sunlight illuminates art nouveau frescos in the main atrium inside the Samaritaine department store. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2YWIUFSQAUCK3HGHHY572D466Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=941ff64c77ff1feead7adab7ab99f86126a5d54a90548dd8e40244f029c56f05&width=400&height=225)
A curved glass facade covers the Samaritaine department store following renovations. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7WJNTAJUDKDBO6YD5GDI4BHS5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=261fbae537c3296376502ce012cc465b8a5f970923d067d5cff208ebba220fb9&width=400&height=225)
A scale model sits on display inside the Samaritaine department store. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XDLYFP2EVH7PEWPOMERIG2DBYY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8893ef44c3c1b31798bd7717e592b6e1899c8cefff94b1a21f02cec1fbd7cb9d&width=400&height=225)
Concrete paving slabs sit stacked outside the Samaritaine department store during ongoing renovation work in Paris. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KAHIDWD2T5TCZBRX5XTBA25F4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=6e7064b3f7600127197f65bb333c911aa49446ef75c3715be38db870bf8f6b3f&width=400&height=225)
The grand staircase connects retail floors areas inside the Samaritaine department store, during ongoing renovation work in Paris. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5NZJALMO5DZN2ZDJCAB2SIRDYA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4f82237eced636955f570d13969850b68dae97464b9b9f6fad27384bffc29edc&width=400&height=225)
Wrought-iron balconies and banisters stand on the grand staircase beneath the glass roofed atrium of the Samaritaine department store. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OY5UCLXXFHIGOOKDDDCXWQTUOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=afaef2540025a357fa3d42f2b87fc361a0c84f893a2915ab8160d00e0df0819f&width=400&height=225)
Wrought-iron balconies and banisters stand on the grand staircase in the atrium of the Samaritaine department store. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FKZ3HIMZOHKANEXWMWRBOSXWFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f42b0ba3d4cc077561a7317c815208b4ed50486a51802723c1119d03e16ecd72&width=400&height=225)
Cosmetic sales signs sit in a beauty product retail area inside the Samaritaine department store during renovation works. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XNDAXVKV5SO4GEQ5HK4EE4VEEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a17b81f8852443a27d3cdda5f583473e06ed94f09bbac4e852435dab04e72569&width=400&height=225)
Gold mosaic tiles adorn metalwork panels in the atrium inside the Samaritaine. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LYOUAHKIHAJI3DGEIRRZ6JHIJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a5e285e974f52e4a1820527d0f2e2f89ff50b80523b3086d63cbb4280497410&width=400&height=225)
Sunlight illuminates art nouveau frescos in the main atrium inside the Samaritaine department store. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2YWIUFSQAUCK3HGHHY572D466Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=941ff64c77ff1feead7adab7ab99f86126a5d54a90548dd8e40244f029c56f05&width=400&height=225)
A curved glass facade covers the Samaritaine department store following renovations. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7WJNTAJUDKDBO6YD5GDI4BHS5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=261fbae537c3296376502ce012cc465b8a5f970923d067d5cff208ebba220fb9&width=400&height=225)
A scale model sits on display inside the Samaritaine department store. Bloomberg
Europe’s wealthiest man splashes out $1bn on a department store
La Samaritaine, part of billionaire Bernard Arnault’s LVMH luxury empire, is set to reopen next April after a 15-year renovation
Bloomberg
29 November, 2019
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