Architect Cécile Four designs a new kind of boulangerie for Copains Paris, breaking away from the traditional model

The new boutique bakery designed by Cécile Four for Copains is located on rue des Saints-Pères, in the heart of Paris’s Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood. The space has been conceived as a true Italian bottega, inviting visitors to stroll along a spacious central counter and discover artisanal breads and pastries.

Copains challenges the conventional idea of the French boulangerie by offering completely open interiors, where the baked goods are presented as if in a gallery, both beautiful and appetizing.

The design reflects this vision through the use of organic shapes and noble materials such as walnut wood, natural stone flooring, and enameled lava countertops. The glass block structures that form part of the furnishings recall modernist architecture, a nod to Pierre Chareau’s iconic Maison de Verre, located just a few steps from the shop.

Every detail has been conceived to create a multisensory experience. Soft light filters through textured glass walls, generating a warm ambiance, while the open layout encourages a smooth and intuitive flow through the space. The combination of wood and natural tones enhances the space’s artisanal authenticity.

The central, front-facing counter arrangement invites fluid, welcoming movement and encourages direct interaction between artisan baker and customer—in a spirit of transparency and openness.

Project: Boulangerie Copains Rive Gauche.
Interior design: Cécile Four Arquitecta.
Area : 30m2
Completion : 2024
Location: Rue des Saints Pères. Paris

Cécile Four

Cécile Four is a graduate of ENSA Paris-La Villette, where she completed a Master’s degree in 2018–2019, following earlier studies at Università degli Studi Roma Tre in 2016–2017. She has collaborated with architect and scenographer Patrick Bouchain, as well as with the agency Encore Heureux.

Her practice spans multiple scales, from spatial design to custom furniture. She works on renovation and fit-out projects—both residential and commercial—throughout France. Her approach adapts to the specific needs of each client, from concept sketches to final delivery.

The guiding thread in every project is a search for local context, user needs, and the creative potential found in the accumulation of constraints and references from various periods. She also draws on the expertise of a network of skilled artisans to better understand materials and building techniques. Her projects give particular attention to preserving and enhancing existing elements, while favoring a more resource-conscious use of materials and systems, rooted in both creative and ecological intelligence.

Project by Cécile Four