Aesop Greenwich Connecticut draws inspiration from Isamu Noguchi’s use of materials and methods of construction. Nestled along tree-lined Greenwich Avenue, the store emanates harmony and warmth across its glazed façade. A monolithic red marble element folds in on itself to become a tea station, inviting customers to take a moment of respite. Traditional Japanese joinery techniques, used in many of Noguchi’s sculptural pedestals, inform reclaimed timber shelves, which hover ever so slightly from the walls.
The piercing tectonics of Noguchi’s metal works are referenced in the design of the central counter and basin: a slender brass arc intersects with a rectangular brass section to form a simple, sturdy setting in which to explore our approach to skin care. The structure cradles a cantilevered fount; water extends across the surface and falls softly over the edge into the bowl below. An overlapping, angled wall articulates the threshold between front- and back-of-house—light glows from behind and challenges spatial perception.