A mere ten-or-so steps away from its predecessor, Aesop’s second incarnation within Fukuoka’s AMU Plaza Hakata was designed in collaboration with long-standing partner SIMPLICITY, retaining its former essence while allowing for a greater diversity of experiences. The history of Hakata as the ‘Golden Land’ for trade provided enduring inspiration: the store is conceived as a merchant’s home with a boutique in the front, a warehouse to the side, and a storehouse where precious goods are kept for safekeeping.
As customers step into the wide, open and orderly main room, they are greeted by patinated, golden warmth. Crafted from reused brass, a trio of monumental rectangular prisms structures the space. Aesop’s formulations for the skin, hair, body and home are set out along the back wall; at the ample communal basins, explorations are encouraged and facilitated by dexterous consultants. Reminiscent of the chests used to transport commodities across the seas to and from Fukuoka, stacked timber boxes create an intimate space where visitors are invited to retire from the bustling retail environment. Nestled within, an antique basin and mirror provide a setting similar to a private home’s washroom. Here, one can engage in individualised consultations and product applications.
