Project Info
Project Name: Aesop NEWoMan TAKANAWA
Architect: TORAFU ARCHITECTS (Koichi Suzuno and Shinya Kamuro)
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Thematic Harmony: A Dialogue Between Murano and the Space Age
Amidst the bustling urban regeneration of Takanawa Gateway City, TORAFU ARCHITECTS has crafted a retail environment for the Australian skincare brand Aesop that is both a functional space and a piece of sculptural interior art. The design of the Aesop NEWoMan Takanawa store is a profound, quiet tribute to the site's unique architectural context, drawing specific inspiration from the local masterpiece by Japanese modernist master, Togo Murano.
The architects were captivated by the organic curves and refined material harmony of Murano's Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa. This local elegance guided the design direction, which was then elegantly fused with the Retro-Futuristic aesthetics of the 1950s and 1960s Space Age—a style characterized by clean geometry, new materials, and an optimistic vision of the future.
The result is a retail space that fosters a quiet dialogue between Nostalgia and Newness, effectively inviting customers to step into a tranquil world that offers immediate respite from the outside urban complexity.
Monochromatic Stillness: The Power of Faded Green
The most striking feature of the design is its reliance on a strict, monochromatic palette. Departing from the typical multi-textured approach, TORAFU limited the entire color scheme to a single, deep slightly sun-faded green hue. This consistent tone is applied uniformly across the floor, walls, ceiling, and fixed cabinetry, giving the impression that the entire room was sculpted from a single, continuous mass.
This design choice serves two critical architectural functions:
- Emphasizing Form and Sculpture: By neutralizing the color contrast, the outlines of the architectural forms—the soft, curved walls and the monolithic central sink fixture—are highlighted, transforming them into distinct sculptural elements.
- Product Elevation: The deliberate tranquility and simplicity of the green backdrop ensure that Aesop's amber-bottled products stand out cleanly and precisely, appearing in an orderly, almost floating arrangement.
At the store's core stands a central sink fixture featuring an ivory-colored basin integrated into a solid surface countertop with subtle stainless-steel fittings. This element serves as the primary testing station, injecting a clean, refined contrast against the earthy, faded green, and evoking a sense of laboratory-like precision.
The Customer Journey: From Gentle Reveal to Calm Consultation
The design masterfully manages the visual experience and customer circulation. Along the corner façade, a soft green wall extends along the corridor, punctuated by a large display window. This window is intentionally designed not to dominate, but to gently reveal the brand’s serene world to passersby, inviting curiosity rather than demanding attention.
The internal layout prioritizes intimate, personal interaction. The central counter facilitates immediate testing and transactions, while a dedicated area towards the back—equipped with a sofa and a secondary sink—offers a calm, private environment suitable for in-depth consultation.
By skillfully layering the refined brand worldview of Aesop with the historical and contemporary context of its Takanawa location, TORAFU ARCHITECTS has succeeded in creating a retail space that is both timeless and forward-looking. It is a quiet sanctuary where the nostalgia of the Space Age elegantly meets the functional demands of contemporary retail.
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