AESOP SAINT HONORÉ
2010 | PARIS | FRANCE
‘The planks of carefully coordinated lengths create both horizontal and vertical definition providing shelves to showcase the product range while echoing the diverse grains and natural patterns on a macroscopic scale.’
Aesop Saint-Honoré serves as a captivating exploration of materials, particularly the inherent warmth of timber. Located within a 17th-century building near the elegant Palais Royal, the design is profoundly influenced by delicate parquetry often found in the city's historic apartments. Embracing a contemporary abstraction of this historic decorative technique, the interior is a complex assemblage of consistent elements as though intricately carved from within.
The wood of choice for this store is Victorian Ash, a timber grown in renewable forests across Australia. The wood was cut in a factory in Melbourne’s inner-city suburb Richmond, then each of the approximately 3,500 pieces was hand-cut, hand-sanded, sealed and numbered according to meticulously drafted plans before being strategically packed in shipping crates.
The planks of carefully coordinated lengths create both horizontal and vertical definition providing shelves to showcase the product range while echoing the diverse grains and natural patterns on a macroscopic scale. The same timber material extends to the floors and ceilings, offering smooth planes that serve as a striking contrast to the intricately patterned walls. A solid slab of stacked planks, cantilevered from one wall and supported by sleek black rods provides a service counter whilst a subtle sink is integrated into another bench, accentuated by blackened steel tapware amid the ligneous consistency.
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RETAIL
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COMPLETE
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PARIS | FRANCE
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BUILDER | CBD CONTRACTING
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LOUIS BASQUIAST