Maison Ruinart reopens after three-year renovation in Reims

Maison Ruinart, the oldest Champagne house founded in 1729, has reopened its historic estate at 4 Rue des Crayères in Reims after three years of renovation. The project, led by architect Sou Fujimoto, interior designer Gwenaël Nicolas, and landscape architect Christophe Gautrand, introduces a contemporary pavilion in stone and glass that houses the Bar by Ruinart and a boutique. The pavilion, named after Nicolas Ruinart, features sustainable elements such as rainwater collection, an ecological roof, reinforced insulation, anti-UV glass, geothermal systems, and solar panels, producing 80% of its energy needs. It meets French HQE (Haute Qualité Environnementale) standards. The interiors, designed by Nicolas, are fluid and multiform with golden Champagne-toned rooms. The estate includes the Chemin des Crayères path, designed by Gautrand, honoring the 13th-century chalk quarries, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2015. The path leads to the Giardino degli Artisti, a 7,000-square-meter garden where artworks from Carte Blanche 2024 and other pieces are displayed outdoors, featuring artists such as Jeppe Hein, Eva Jospin, Pascale Marthine Tayou, Henrique Oliveira, and Lelia Demoisy. The site hosts over 110 works. President Frédéric Dufour described the venue as a destination where creativity, know-how, and cultural heritage merge with nature, inspiring artists worldwide.