Shiseido Paris

Overview

Opportunity

Solution

Impact

Team

A hospitality-driven workplace that transforms a peripheral office location into a destination experience, blending Japanese minimalism with Parisian elegance.

Location

Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

Client

Shiseido EMEA

Expertise

Consumer Goods Brand Design [FPO] Interior Design

Opportunity

When Shiseido relocated from central Paris to Neuilly-sur-Seine, the challenge was replacing the prestige of address with the power of experience.

For a global beauty leader, workplace perception is inseparable from brand identity. Shiseido’s move from a prestigious central Paris location to a more efficient building in Neuilly-sur-Seine risked being viewed as a downgrade by employees and visitors. Concerns about location, visibility, and amenities caused resistance to change. The opportunity was to transform a pragmatic relocation into an upgraded employee experience by creating a workplace that reinforced company culture, supported new ways of working, and made people genuinely want to come to the office.

Why This Matters

01
Beyond the Address
Success depended on proving that workplace value comes from experience, culture, and well-being rather than a prestigious postal code.
02
Supporting Change
Shiseido was transitioning to a more flexible workplace model, requiring employee trust, change, and authentic engagement.
03
Celebrating Brand Heritage
The new headquarters needed to express Shiseido’s Japanese roots and beauty expertise without relying on overt branding or symbolism.

Our new Shiseido EMEA workplace marks a key milestone, reflecting our Japanese heritage and the spirit of omotenashi to create a harmonious, high-performing environment that inspires talent and innovation.

Solution

Gensler transformed relocation challenges into opportunities through a workplace designed around omotenashi, Shiseido’s philosophy of intuitive hospitality and care.

The design translated Shiseido’s values into an environment that instinctively supports how people work, connect, and recharge. Guided by four themes, lifestyle, energy, intuition, and connection, the workplace balances calm with creativity. A layered palette inspired by cosmetic powders unfolds across four floors, while terraces, biophilic elements, and natural materials soften the experience. Diverse work settings, specialist beauty facilities, technology-enabled collaboration spaces, and wellness amenities create a workplace ecosystem tailored to both local expectations and global cultural values.

From brief to build: how listening, cultural alignment, and hospitality-inspired design transformed a perceived downgrade into a sought-after destination workplace.

The project began with extensive employee interviews, workshops, and behavioral analysis to understand concerns surrounding the relocation. Gensler developed a decision-making framework built around listening, circularity, and omotenashi. Local workplace expectations were carefully balanced with Shiseido’s global standards, while design solutions responded directly to employee feedback. Material palettes, planning strategies, specialist facilities, and employee journeys were developed simultaneously, ensuring that every design decision reinforced both business objectives and human experience.

Listening as a Method

The user journey was created together with participants in a series of workshops. Rather than focusing on the limitations of the new space, the team embraced the opportunity to redefine what workplace excellence means.

Impact

The project demonstrates how a thoughtfully designed workplace can outperform location alone by creating meaningful experiences and stronger cultural connection.

Employees gained a destination workplace that supports well-being, learning, and identity while reinforcing Shiseido’s values and future ways of working.

What Changed Because of This

01
Workplace Experience
Diverse work settings, hospitality-focused amenities, and outdoor spaces create a more engaging and flexible daily experience.
02
Cultural Identity
Japanese values and Parisian sophistication coexist in a unified environment that authentically reflects Shiseido’s heritage.
03
Business Support
Specialist training, treatment, fragrance, and makeup facilities strengthen operations while reducing reliance on external venues.

We brought Japanese and French design sensibilities together, creating a workplace that expresses Shiseido’s heritage while giving its Paris team a distinctive identity.

Recognition

01

Les Echos

Gensler connects brand and business in Shiseido’s European office.

02

Workplace Magazine France

Feature on Gensler’s Japanese-inspired design for Shiseido’s Paris headquarters.

Team

Project Leadership

[FPO] Ben Soquier

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[FPO] Laura Gelso

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[FPO] Barbara Burg

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[FPO] Farrah El Sharif

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FAQ

01

What inspired the design concept?

The design is inspired by Shiseido’s heritage and the Japanese philosophy of omotenashi, or intuitive hospitality.

02

How does the workplace support employees?

The workplace supports employees through wellness amenities, outdoor terraces, collaboration areas, and specialist facilities.

03

What makes this workplace unique?

It balances Japanese minimalism with Parisian elegance while translating hospitality principles into daily workplace experiences.

04

How does the project support Shiseido’s business?

Dedicated training, fragrance, makeup, and treatment spaces support education, product evaluation, and operational efficiency.

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Related Expertise

Consumer Goods Brand Design Interior Design

A hospitality-driven workplace that transforms a peripheral office location into a destination experience, blending Japanese minimalism with Parisian elegance.

When Shiseido relocated from central Paris to Neuilly-sur-Seine, the challenge was replacing the prestige of address with the power of experience.

Why This Matters

Gensler transformed relocation challenges into opportunities through a workplace designed around omotenashi, Shiseido’s philosophy of intuitive hospitality and care.

From brief to build: how listening, cultural alignment, and hospitality-inspired design transformed a perceived downgrade into a sought-after destination workplace.

The project demonstrates how a thoughtfully designed workplace can outperform location alone by creating meaningful experiences and stronger cultural connection.

What Changed Because of This