Aesop Sounds Hannam

Aesop’s ninth Seoul signature store is located in cosmopolitan Hannam, an eclectic neighbourhood of hilly streets and narrow alleys. Designed in collaboration with Mlkk, the space is also home to the company’s first custom-built Facial Treatment room in Korea.   Viewed from the street, Aesop Hannam Sounds is redolent of a cloister; an inviting space that retains a sense of the mysterious, its windows offering a glimpse of the warmth inside. Upon entry, a welcoming interior is revealed, hewn from brick. Two commanding volumes—a demonstration sink and point-of-sale—are centrally positioned, a material extension of the brick flooring and walls.   Products are displayed in arched niches whose rounded brick forms recall mangdaengi gama, traditional chambered kiln. Copper shelving and detailing stand in pleasing juxtaposition to the predominantly earthen textural palette. A stairwell leads to a second floor; here, the treatment room, lounge and back-of-house area reprise the honeyed tones of the retail space below, while the outdoor terrace offers a place for repose.   Clients 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 products best suited to individual needs.