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Issue 59 - The Life Outside Issue

Issue 59

The Life Outside Issue

Introducing the Life Outside issue of Habitus magazine. With life increasingly being absorbed into a digital space, there is never a more important moment to hold something tangible. In this context, the power of nature to have a physiological impact on our sense of wellbeing has never been more important. So how can we cultivate the benefits of the our natural environment in the most intimate of places – our homes? This was the question that helped to bring this issue of Habitus to life.

A Product of

Aesop Balmain
ShopsEditorial Team

Aesop Balmain

Australia

The skincare brand known for its strikingly original and well conceived retail interiors, has recently opened a new store in Sydney’s inner west. Elana Castle chats to Henry Wilson about his vision for Aesop’s new Balmain location.


The acclaimed Sydney based designer Henry Wilson may be responsible for a slew of notable furniture and lighting designs, but his true-to-vision retail fitout of the new Aesop store in Balmain, certainly cements his skill as a multi-disciplinary operator.

aesop_balmain_2

“The concept for the store came from an understanding of the suburb and the existing materials,” adds Wilson. “The aim was to produce a space that was as familiar and utilitarian as an Australian backyard, contrasted with the sophistication of the Aesop brand.”

aesop_balmain_4

The original site was originally a “black exterior” with a walled off interior. “There was a dark red timber floor and a badly damaged ceiling but as we removed the tiles we uncovered more and more sandstone, hidden doorways, fireplaces and lovely high lintels,” Wilson describes.

aesop_balmain_3

The design development that followed was informed and inspired by Wilson’s site discoveries and a keen sense of understanding of Balmain’s industrial heritage.

“The stone is a really strong feature of the space so the idea was to keep the rest as crisp as possible,” he explains. “Stone also absorbs light and can look dingy so, it was also important to emphasise the natural light from both directions. Further consideration was keeping the loose items free from walls, given that their irregularity makes is very difficult to build against.”

aesop_balmain_5

As a result the store is defined by freestanding ply shelving panels, sourced from an industrial supplier. “This ‘off the shelf’ concept has been carried through to the point of sale area, the sink and the back-of- house areas,” adds Wilson. “This ‘reworking’ extends to the vintage furniture and customised lighting.”

Unsurprisingly, Wilson’s detailing is centred on the overarching idea of “durability”, both visually and physically. The tinted concrete terrazzo floors reference mid-century Sydney apartments and the pale Australian timbers and light colour palette emphasise the raw surfaces and natural light.

Henry Wilson
henrywilson.com.au

Aesop
aesop.com.au


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AustraliaInterior ArchitectureInterior DesignretailSydney


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Issue 59 - The Life Outside Issue

Issue 59

The Life Outside Issue

Introducing the Life Outside issue of Habitus magazine. With life increasingly being absorbed into a digital space, there is never a more important moment to hold something tangible. In this context, the power of nature to have a physiological impact on our sense of wellbeing has never been more important. So how can we cultivate the benefits of the our natural environment in the most intimate of places – our homes? This was the question that helped to bring this issue of Habitus to life.

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