Although already well established with an extensive network of shops across Sydney, cosmetics brand Aesop has just added a twelfth design-led boutique in the heart of town. The store is situated on the premises of Westfield Sydney, a large upscale shopping complex, and sees a renewed collab with acclaimed Norwegian design practice Snøhetta. As always evocative, the chosen aesthetic here is inspired by both the urban buzz of downtown Sydney and laid-back vibe of Bondi Beach, and aims to create a tranquil oasis where shoppers can indulge in Aesop merchandise. A granite structure wraps the interior of the sandstone building, references Christo and Jeanne-Claude‘s late 1960s Wrapped Coast project at Little Bay, and serves as a monumental backdrop. Carved grooves create the divisions where metal shelves have been inserted, integrating shaves into the cladding.
Polished metal detailing reflects the stone, creating an almost invisible line and highlighting the products displayed around the perimeter of the space. A large metal block sinks boast a clean profile and display the products in a central zone dedicated to cleansing and testing. The sinks and counters are industrial and sleek, even while their finish reflects the dark and cool stone. Upon entering the store, shoppers come across metal-clad communal sinks used for demonstrations of products, while three separate sinks for individual product testing can be found at the back. It’s here where also a small amphitheater can be found where to sit back or watch a short film displayed on an in-built screen on the wall. The new Aesop store carries the brand’s full range of skin, hair and body care products, in addition to its home products.
Aesop
Westfield, 188 Pitt Street, Shop 2047 (Town Hall).
Sydney, NSW 2000
Telephone: +61 2 92390477
Mon-Wed 9-7
Thu 9-9
Fri 9-8
Sat 9-7
Sun 10-7
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
