Aesop Wall Street

On buzzing Wall Street, in what was once the main entrance lobby of a thirty-seven-story skyscraper, Aesop occupies a space of preserved Art-Deco grandeur. Designed with trusted collaborator Jakob Sprenger, the intention was to create something that feels like it might have always been there. Inspiration came from the bold verticality of Manhattan, as well as the building’s history as the office of the Munson Steamship Line in the 1920s. The magnificent pre-existing space was defined by soaring ceilings and walls clad in Fior di Pesco marble. Based on the classical Greek order, pilasters added rhythm to the walls while ornate crown mouldings and a coffered ceiling gave the room a strong, opulent character. Developed with our in-house team, Sprenger’s concept was to maintain the existing architectural splendour, restore integrity where needed, and to insert a layer of free-standing furniture that could be easily reused in a future location. Heralding the entrance, a large flag with the brand’s insignia—uncharacteristic for Aesop but ubiquitous on Wall Street—proudly marks our presence. The original “Munson Building” brass plaque has been retained as a reminder of the building’s past. Inside, seven bays of maple wood, patinated brass and fabric inlay allow visitors to encounter our full range of products for the skin, hair, body and home. With their curved frames generating scallops of light, the shelves were designed in a playful nod to the building’s maritime heritage. A sculptural brass basin stands as the store’s centrepiece. Here, customers are invited to have their hands washed by one of our dexterous consultants, who will then apply formulations selected to meet the individual’s specific skin care needs. This act allows guests to experience our brand in a profound way, creating a moment of pause in the chaotic spatter of a day in the Financial District. Overhead, a spectacular vintage chandelier illuminates the full stature of the salon, its radiance chiming with the brass clock set high into the wall. In the depths of the store, a petit chamber in soothing dark hues accommodates more intimate explorations of our unconventional Eaux de Parfum, leaving the hubbub of Wall Street behind. Each fragrance can be sampled at the horizontal bay, where petri dishes containing fragments of scent-imbued muslin cloth allow one to understand the full body of the aroma. From this vantage point, the calm tension between expressive gestures and understated coherence that this store embodies can be taken in.