It was a typical early Hong Kong summer morning—warm and filled with bustling energy. This was particularly the case at Lee Garden One, where guests were gathered in the courtyard, waiting for a special moment—the reopening of the Hermès store. Having been shut for a year and a half for renovation and expansion, it was finally ready to open its doors again.
The Lee Gardens store was not the maison’s first store in Hong Kong, but it is certainly one of the most significant. Since its opening in 1997 in the heart of Hong Kong’s busiest shopping district, the store has been a favourite spot for the house’s loyal customers—especially local luxury connoisseurs.
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David Smaniotto, managing director of Hermès Hong Kong & Macau
“I have been with Hermès for about 18 years, and during this time, I have had the chance to meet Hong Kong customers in different parts of the world,” says David Smaniotto, managing director of Hermès Hong Kong & Macau. “I have always been impressed by how sophisticated they are and how deeply they understand craftsmanship.” When he took on his current role in 2020 amid the pandemic, he realised the challenging circumstances presented a unique opportunity to connect with the market. “It allowed us to build even deeper and more meaningful relationships with Hong Kong customers. For me, they are the best partners for us to grow [with] into the future.”
When the opportunity arose for the expansion and renovation of the Lee Gardens store, Hermès seized it. Going beyond mere strategic presence or a space to boost business, Hermès took the opportunity to further its connection with Hong Kong, by acknowledging its uniqueness—a coexistence of rich nature and urbanity.
Enter the Hermès store through its basement entrance, where the mosaic floor arrangement imitates the movement of tree roots spreading across the ground
Designed by Parisian architecture agency RDAI, which is responsible for all Hermès stores worldwide, the store’s design draws inspiration from the nearby natural landscape. The store’s exterior stone façade, for instance, inspired by Hong Kong’s distinctive masonry wall trees, features curves and ridges that undulate like long aerial roots. The concept continues as you enter the store through its basement entrance, where the mosaic floor arrangement imitates the movement of tree roots spreading across the ground, reflecting the essence of the thriving jungle that still makes up a significant part of the city.
The newly expanded Lee Gardens store boasts one of the most extensive offerings of all Hermès stores in Asia
Continuing the journey to the ground floor via a staircase adorned with decorative glass that evokes a tumbling waterfall, the mosaic floor transforms into a scene reminiscent of sand and waves, celebrating the city centre’s proximity to beautiful beaches. A lacquered and engraved wall, inspired by the rugged coasts of Hong Kong’s Geopark, pays homage to the ancient geological spectacles that can still be found in the city, and a wooden cocoon-like space on the first floor houses the leather, watches and jewellery métiers. Meanwhile, a special display across three windows was commissioned for the Lee Gardens store reopening. Titled Being Alive, the work by Japanese artist Ryu Mitarai is a striking triptych interpretation of horses in motion.
“For us, it is always important for the store to reflect local culture,” Smaniotto explains. “It is a space to explore a common language between Hermès and every city where a store is located, to spark new energy and inspiration. That’s why a visit to a Hermès store in different places is always unique.” Other Tatler favourite Hermès branches include the Tokyo Omotesando store, with a façade made entirely of bamboo that pays tribute to Japanese architectural tradition and wisdom; and the Bangkok Siam Paragon store which is inspired by traditional Thai houses, embracing the rich cultural heritage.
A wooden cocoon-like space on the first floor houses the leather, watches and jewellery métiers
The unique experience, though, goes beyond visual and design elements. The house allows each store to select their merchandise to cater to its customers’ preferences. As a result, each store has slightly different product offerings, tailored to the preferences of its loyal, local clientele. “Hermès is a company that innovates,” Smaniotto explains. “We launched our e-commerce site in 2020, and it serves as a great window for customers to enter our world, even if they haven’t yet made the step to visit our store. However, we greatly value human interactions as it is irreplaceable. We believe our staff have an intimate understanding of our clients through day-to-day interactions. As a result, clients receive the utmost customisation, ensuring that the product offerings in the Lee Gardens store are closely aligned with what its customers desire.”
Fostering this bond between staff and customers, and encouraging human connection was thus another factor influencing the store’s design. The newly expanded Lee Gardens store boasts one of the most extensive offerings of all Hermès stores in Asia, featuring creations from all of the maison’s 16 métiers. Despite its comprehensive inventory, the thoughtfully curated space remains airy, with a sense of privacy. The space exudes warmth, thanks to the presence of wood and carefully designed lighting that ensures soft illumination. Enhanced seating areas, fitting rooms and private salons have been introduced to elevate visitors’ comfort—allowing them to slow down, take the time to appreciate the exquisite arts and crafts, and engage in conversation.
A special window display by Japanese artist Ryu Mitarai
The thoughtfully curated space remains airy, with a sense of privacy
“Hong Kong is a very busy city, where everyone leads a very active life,” says Smaniotto. “We hope to create this little corner of nature in the heart of the city, where everyone can slow down and relax. This generosity of space also enables our staff to cultivate lasting deeper, richer relationships with customers.”
A fan of Hong Kong’s nature, especially its hiking trails, Smaniotto says the newly renovated Lee Gardens store’s nature-meets-urban concept is important to him on a personal level. More importantly, it signifies Hermès’s steadfast commitment to Hong Kong. “Each store reopening represents a long-term investment, reflecting our confidence in both the short- and long-term prospects of the region. Situated in the bustling and vibrant district of Causeway Bay, the store has been a staple for local customers since 1997. This latest development underscores our dedication to providing an exceptional shopping experience in one of the city’s most exciting areas, reinforcing our enduring relationship with the community.”
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