While Aesop changed ownership in a much publicised deal, becoming part of the global L’Oréal empire, the also company continued to open striking design-led shops across the planet. At home base Melbourne, the cosmetics brand has relocated its downtown shop at 87 Collins Street, a prominent location it has held since 2012, to the historic Georges Building right across the street. There, Aesop occupies a voluminous 79 sqm. (850 sq.ft.) unit on the ground floor and features an understated interior design by local practice Clare Cousins Architects which offers a stark contrast to the building’s ornate, late 19th century façade. Although distinctly contemporary, the chosen aesthetic is imbued with references to building’s neoclassical architecture., while also building on the given grandeur.
The striking curves of the sculpted ceiling take cues from the domed reading room of the nearby State Library of Victoria, and balance out the predominant linearity of the design below. Interestingly, and also very much in line with today’s necessary focus on sustainability, it’s coated in salvaged and crushed Aesop bottles mixed with render. Australian blackbutt timber, captured by shelving, cabinets, other furniture pieces and fixtures, including two basins embedded in a desk, wraps around the space. Taking centre stage is a monumental stone table with four additional basins and a storage cabinet crafted from the same material. The new Aesop store carries the brand’s full range of face, body and hair care products, in addition to fragrances and home products.
Aesop
162 Collins Street (CBD)
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Telephone: +61 3 86370385
Mon-Sat 10am-6pm
Sun 11am-5pm
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.
