Aesop Tokyo engages in a constant dialogue between refined domesticity and the forces of nature. Created in collaboration with SIMPLICITY under the leadership of Shinichiro Ogata, this is the company’s tenth store in the Kantō region, and takes ample inspiration from the district’s rich history. It is located in Nakameguro, beside the Meguro River, and features Aesop’s first facial treatment room in Japan.
Shaped largely by the ebb and flow of water over aeons, this riverside district once lay beneath the Pacific Ocean, and later flourished agriculturally thanks to abundant groundwater. The influence is evoked with a sculptural trapeze in the entry, which suggests the presence of water by subtly mimicking its appearance via the surface of a polished copper panel.
Further inspiration stemmed from the area’s evolution from a centre for commerce and industry in the early Shōwa era to a vibrant residential district.
The domestic geometry of the 110-square metre interior is presented like a stage, with elements that are read gradually.Reassuringly familiar furnishings, reminiscent of a 1950s family home, are balanced by surfaces rendered in raw materials – such as raw concrete walls and ceilings, metal sinks and cupboards, and coir and mortar flooring. A large glass window frames the view down into the courtyard garden.
Display cabinets set at parallel diagonal angles crafted in teak and woven Washi paper line one side of the retail floor. Opposite, sculptural concrete joinery runs along the wall, shifting in height and depth to create seating, storage and product display. Clients can sample Aesop formulations at a copper trough backed by penny tiling, or a small copper sink towards the front window. More timber cabinetry is set above the sink, while other vintage furniture such as drinks trolleys, cupboards and dining sets invite extended exploration. Feature pendant lighting echoes the mid-century aesthetic.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, Japan