Aesop recently opened its first signature store in Munich – the company’s seventh in Germany. Tucked within historic city centre The Luitpoldblock, the design experiments with balance and tension effected by striking contrasts in materiality and texture, and through tactile, delicate accents. Centrally positioned in the main room, an outsized concrete point-of-sale counter complements a tiered concrete ceiling and screed floors; collectively, these Brutalist elements resonate with the architecture of the neighbourhood. A marble top and recessed marble sink contrast the counter’s monolithic austerity and soften the interior’s atmosphere. In the adjoining space a rounded concrete sink affords extended consultations, while vintage furnishings invite repose.

Vertical trapezes of aged brass with slender shelves of marble descend from the ceiling and sit in the window. The interior wall opposite the window is finished with soft velvet panels, which catch light and reflect rosy hues that shift over the course of the day. Visitors 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, meticulously considered design remains paramount to the creation of each space.

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