In , Printemps Haussmann developed. New floors were rented and two houses from the neighbouring rue de Provence were annexed to the shop. Iron bridges were also constructed to join the buildings together, but the real showstopper was the installation of two new elevators. No other shop had yet introduced such innovations. Following these works, the store lapped up a great reputation throughout the capital. The developments continued in the following years with further neighbouring buildings bought and a fourth frontage acquired on rue de Caumartin.
But in , a devastating fire completely destroyed the buildings of Printemps. Only those recently acquired on the rue Caumartin were able to escape the disaster.
Jaluzot however, quickly picked himself up and reconstructed the buildings. It was the first department store to use electricity, elevator lifts and introduced modernize architectural feats such as a massive spiral staircase and a meter high dome. Over the years, several reconstruction projects had to take place to rebuild from disastrous fires, and many of its original architectural features were removed.
Although, in , the grandson of the founder was able to reinstall the great dome. Since then, both the Art Nouveau style dome and facade are registered as historic monuments. As a result, facilitating vertical movement and creating a landmark that would be compliant the quality of the establishment.
In January , a new space that stretches vertically from the lower ground floor up to the 9th floor was realized. To do this, a concept of a vertical dome, also called a veil, penetrates the heart of the building. The veil weighs 24 tons, but appears to float in front of the vertical circulation with a glass floor and mirror ceiling. It is The floral relief created by two layers of aluminum surface is an interpretation of images found in the historic stained glass.
Transposed into a repetitive pattern that is then randomized to form the burst of colors on the white surface. The geometry of the veil is conceived by connecting the four corners of the void with simple curves in plan and elevation. Such was its success that the original store became too small and two buildings in the neighbouring rue of Provence were added in and iron footbridges built to inter connect them.
Le Printemps Haussmann was also the first department store to be equipped with two elevators to ease access to floors. This luxurious innovation exhibited at the Universal Exhibition of generated more success! The fire that destroyed them in except the latter building could have sounded the death knell for the department store. The new buildings were inaugurated in and a second store opened in Deauville two years later. This reconstruction was paired with innovation as Le Printemps adopted the concept of temporary exhibits such as its fabulous Christmas displays that are still the end of year sale highlight.
In , the opening of the Havre-Caumartin station on Metro line 2 with direct access to the store triggered more affluence and by Le Printemps Haussmann already spread over the 3 current buildings. In the store adopted the single-price concept for consumer products and founded Prisunic a small supermarket. WWII obviously had a negative impact on trade, and it was not until the s that business resumed and massive transformations took place to adapt to the evolution of the clientele.
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