Following three years of renovation, Saint Laurent today announced that they would be moving their operations to the historically charged site of Pentemont Abbey, the former home of the French Imperial Guard and more recently, the French Ministry of Defence: a move that sees Saint Laurent return to its Rive Gauche roots first sown by Yves Saint Laurent himself who, in 1966 became the first couturier to open a ready-to-wear boutique under his name; located on the Left Bank – just a stone’s throw from the new HQ.

The relocation was originally announced last year with Anthony Vaccarello‘s debut show even taking place in the then under-construction building and will be seen as an ideal opportunity for Vacarello to realise his own creative vision for the house with the benefit of a fresh – and stunning – canvas.

The renovations have followed a painstaking course over the past three years, with the rich cultural heritage of the site meaning that any amendments or alterations to the original structure have to first pass a stringent set of regulations, obtaining in the process a double certification for sustainability.

Gallery: Saint Laurent SS19

The building, which will house the brand’s head office as well as their showrooms, was originally founded as an abbey in the 13th century before being relocated to Paris at the request of Louis XIV in 1672. For the next two hundred years, the abbey would serve as a prestigious educational institution for young women of society, before being disestablished during the French revolution and adapted to the military purposes it fulfilled until recently.

Read our report from the spectacular Saint Laurent SS19 menswear show here.