Aesop Stuttgart

Aesop’s second German signature store opened recently in Stuttgart’s Breuninger department store.The design directive ‘black but not dark’ – inspired by the works of French painter Pierre Soulages – prompted a palette of muted greys balanced with off-white hues that subtly complement, in shade and configuration, the brand’s distinctive product labels. Accents of brass, leather, wood and felt temper the restrained aesthetic with warmth and textural variation. A central counter of Nero Assoluto stone slabs and black granite anchors the space; it hosts an elongated demonstration sink fitted with simple brass plumbing.

Wrapping the walls, a ribbon of milled black MDF panelling articulated with linear incisions references Soulages’ work as an engraver and sculptor, and stirs memory of his oeuvre-defining Outrenoir series. Customers can explore and select from a complete range of skin, hair and body care products, distinguished by botanical and laboratory-generated ingredients of the highest quality. The store’s trained consultants are able to offer advice about those best suited to individual needs. Aesop was founded in Melbourne in 1987 and today offers its superlative formulations in signature stores and counters around the world, and online. As the company evolves – new stores open soon in London, Sydney and Taiwan – meticulously considered design remains paramount to the creation of each space.

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