AESOP FLINDERS LANE
2007
‘With only a week allocated for design and documentation, the project came to life through folding, gluing, constructing, and stacking 3000 cardboard boxes.’
Flinders Lane explores the application of cardboard in a retail setting, seeking to demonstrate that the material is both suitable and environmentally responsible.
This approach stands in stark contrast to the wastefulness often seen in traditional retail fit-outs, which frequently last only as long as a standard lease. This urgent commission required the creation of a temporary store ready to open within just two weeks to cater to the Christmas rush.
With only a week allocated for design and documentation, the project came to life through folding, gluing, constructing, and stacking 3000 cardboard boxes. These boxes, or "shippers," were the exact ones used by Aesop to transport their products globally. Using these materials, a large, tiered counter and an adjustable shelving wall were fashioned quickly and economically. Additionally, industrial-grade cardboard was stacked to form the serving counter and a display shelf facing the bustling street.
Despite being 100 percent recyclable, the cardboard installation proved remarkably durable, serving its purpose for a decade before finally showing signs of wear. This wear eventually prompted the project’s closure, but its success left a lasting impact. The original store's achievement led to the creation of the subsequent Aesop store on the same site, which was also—fittingly—constructed from cardboard.
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RETAIL
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COMPLETE
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WURUNDJERI | MELBOURNE | VICTORIA
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BUILDER | EDMC
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER | CO-STRUCT
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PETER BENNETTS