The program for an Aesop store is simple. A central wash basin counter, a shop counter and sleek shelves to showcase the skin, hair and body care products. A sincere interest in intelligent and sustainable design extends to every aspect of Aesop’s workings including the design of its stores. In line with their plant-based products enclosed in utilitarian containers, the stores breath simplicity and raw textures.
Aesop’s latest and largest store is located in Sydney’s business district and designed by Snøhetta. Snøhetta’s eighth design for Aesop intends with a robust material palette of stone, brass metal and concrete, to slow down the pace of passersby and encourage browsing. The roughness of the granite entrance in contrast to the smooth sandstone features of the shop interior signals visitors to slow down, and create a moment of stillness upon entry.
As visitors glimpse into the Montreal storefront, they are confronted at first with a familiar raw palette of materials carefully compiled by naturehumaine – plaster, plywood, limestone, brass, and reclaimed wood. A monolithic demonstration sink, covered in local limestone stands as a visual anchor in the middle of the store compelling visitors to move around it in order to explore the nuances and elements of the walls.
The walls, ceiling, and arches are clad in a pink-pigmented clay based plaster by Snøhetta, giving the space a royal rose-color. This simple and clear color palette is contrasted by extensive use of steel in the other custom elements of the store. Combined with the traditional arches and futuristic elements such as the sink, the design aims to trigger customer’s sense of curiosity.
Kerstin Thompson Architects chose a singular use of spotted gum timber for the Aesop Emporium. It features sustainably sourced hardwood ply to create an immersive space that is intimate and visually calm. The warm hue of the timber compliments the product and the simple forms of the store are enriched through the expression of the timber’s grain.
The concept of the Aesop Petite Bourgogne store evokes the intimacy of these small venues that housed the jazz scene of Montreal of the mid-Century. Nested in an old commercial space of rue Notre-Dame, the architectural approach evoques the rich and a dark palette of old cabarets mixed with free standing, rounded shape brass displays that procures a ‘wrap around’ feel and evoques the glitz of wind instruments of the area.
Taking apart the existing interior revealed a concrete skeleton space with signs of repeated repairs. Torafu Architects chose wooden fixtures made from domestically produced chestnut wood to create a tactile warmth in stark contrast to bare concrete and steel with molten zinc coating. As for the floor, we spread a cashmere carpet on the existing concrete floor only in areas where customers would walk to give an impression of softness starting at the feet.
Torafu Architects wanted the walls on both sides to characterize the space in a simple way, and thus used 30mm X 40mm Japanese cedar slats to provide a deep texture with shadows. Contrary to the common practice seen in buildings, the architects chose to present the cross-grain side of the timber as the front surface, which has a more expressive texture.
