The design of Aesop Larchmont, Los Angeles, is a meditation on minimal intervention. Our in-house team embraced the existing shell of the unit, which, with its concrete floor, columns, and exposed ceiling beams—a little worn and raw—has the spirit of a lively atelier. The existing façade, with its ample window, permits natural light to flood into the space, while an astonishing zenith of light streams in from the depths of the store.
Materials were chosen for their longevity and modesty: maple timber was sourced nearby and used to create free-standing furniture that would be readily reusable. Along one wall, a sequence of shelving units is entirely made of timber. Their apparent simplicity is deceptive: if one were to look closely, they would see the meticulous, elegant functionality of the joinery.
Occupying the centre of the room, a quartet of stainless-steel basins—made from repurposed stock material found at the millworker’s factory—are set into pieces of limestone from a Kansas quarry that have been cut from pre-existing panels. These sinks sit atop functional timber frames that reveal drainpipes and other services—superfluous materials were omitted in all instances. Less is more. At the end of this store’s tenure—if it should ever come to that—the full unit can be disassembled, relocated, and given a second life. Customers are encouraged to explore Aesop’s full range of formulations at the basin, with running water if desired. To be sure, we regulate the flow of our taps: no more water than necessary is used during consultations, while the temperature is adapted to the season.
In the depths of the room, a salvaged limestone monolith conceals an intimate zone where a lone basin allows a single patron to apply our superlative skincare products directly onto their face, as if at home. Light slips through a gap in the rock; the whiff of parsley seed; a sublime, private moment. Before departing, guests are invited to rest awhile on the mid-century sofa. Here, they might contemplate their preferred Eaux de Parfum or, possibly, our thoughtful and precise approach to store design.