Aesop Duke of York Square

AUSTRALIAN BORN…

health and beauty label Aesop has opened the doors to its most recent store at Duke of York Square, London, and its stunningly sleek yet earthy vibe couldn’t be more on point for the design-focused brand.

AN EXISTING…

column served as the starting point for the Snøhetta designed store – a feature the team opted to highlight rather than conceal. In doing so, the once slim column was expanded into a series of twelve expansive fins that sprout from the floor outward to the perimeter of the ceiling. Both the fins and surrounding walls were finished in a gradient-dyed pink clay plaster delivered to the site by Clayworks and sourced from local South West counties.

CONCEALED…

within the fins, a system of hidden lighting adds depth and drama while each arched segment serves to visually delineate the various functional areas of the shop. The overall effect imbues the space with an almost primal sense of cave-like cozy.

AT THE CENTER…

of this earthy envelope lies a futuristic ring of stainless steel sinks, complete with a reflective water-mirror. The sleek oasis functions as a modern-day watering hole for testing product and congregating while its large circular footprint acts as a natural wayfinder – driving a flow of traffic to product lined walls where the brand’s apothecary style bottles promise an apt combination of nature-derived beauty delivered through the modern miracle of science.