An impetus for union

Aesop Piccadilly Arcade, designed with Studio Luca Guadagnino, is poised at the Piccadilly entrance of the historic locale in a curved corner store. Within the rounded windows, stucco panels become mock Tudor cabinets from the street and form a portal that heralds a change in atmosphere. A dialogue of languorous corporeality is held between two storeys, which are united by a light well piercing the first floor’s slab.

Once inside, two boulders interlock to form a central basin where the store’s knowledgeable consultants can help customers explore products best suited to their needs. Stone tiles radiate geometrically from the basin in a nod to the architectural heritage of Greenwich. A singular sink nestles into the exposed window, providing an unconventional view onto Piccadilly. A hidden staircase transports the visitor into a room of tender domesticity: stucco embraces the walls, reclaimed timber lines the floor, diaphanous curtains caress the windows. Ceramic sinks perch on polished stainless-steel legs; a daybed invites repose.

Aesop was founded in Melbourne in 1987 and today offers its superlative formulations in stores around the world. As the company evolves, meticulously considered design remains paramount to the creation of each space.