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When one thinks of Aesop, it’s no longer fables that first spring to mind but rather a certain skincare brand with masterfully created offerings that enhance wellbeing, minimalist product packaging and thoughtfully designed retail spaces. Aesop’s collaborations with architectural firms like Snøhetta and Torafu, and designers such as Ilse Crawford, have resulted in stores that effortlessly combine functionality, beauty and a sense of stillness, mirroring Aesop’s philosophy of marrying exceptional skincare with meticulously designed surroundings.
Its showroom on London’s Regent Street, which first opened in September 2022, is a prime example of this. A blend of modernity and tranquillity, and located on one of the capital’s busiest shopping streets, the store was designed by Thomas-McBrien Architects, and now ushers in 2024 in style with the opening of its new skincare treatment rooms. The RIBA-chartered practice is based in east London, and was a natural choice for Aesop. Through its almost 40-year history, the Australian brand has become known for working with the world’s most interesting interior-design studios, often while they are still on the up, and helping to bring their work to new and different audiences – in this case, the high footfall of London’s busiest retail district. Each practice applies its own slant to the Aesop ‘look’. In this case, the approach is a ‘contemporary apothecary’, says the designer, and it is fitted with materials such as bronze, Portland stone, pitted plaster and reclaimed oak. Find more of Thomas-McBrien’s work in houses around London, as well as in New Wave London’s construction offices, where an impressive Douglas-fir glulam structural frame was also recently completed.
From the main space, visitors have the option of two experiential spaces: one is the Sensorium, where an unassuming fragrance armoire awaits guests who wish to imbue an item of clothing with their chosen Aesop scent. The other is the store’s four private facial-appointment chambers situated underground, which feel much further from the hubbub of Regent Street than they actually are. These spaces embody the warmth and comfort of a living room, and the waiting area boasts a calming ambience with carefully selected furnishings, inviting patrons to relax before their treatments. After an initial consultation to understand the client’s skin concerns, an Aesop therapist will perform a hydrating facial – with a choice between 45-, 60- and 75-minute appointments – using concentrated formulations created especially for the treatments by an in-house research and development team.
The facial appointments here, much like their counterparts in other locations round the globe, are a meticulously thought-out experience. Within the private rooms, muted tones of timber and cork usher in a mood of deep repose, and carefully chosen scents and ambient sounds reinforce the sense of seclusion. The design marries functionality with aesthetics, exemplifying the brand’s ethos of simplicity and sophistication, together with a deep reverence for well-crafted spaces.
For more information, visit aesop.com
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