Aesop Kawaramachi

Torafu Architects designed the new Aesop store in Kawaramachi, Kyoto, making the most out of the original building structure with the addition of careful alteration.

The store is located on the first floor of a building on a busy shopping street.

A narrow 3.2 m width, 19.7 m depth with a spatial height of 6.2 m vaulted ceiling. The architects approached the project by making the most out of the original building structure with the addition of careful alteration.

They brought functional part of the store compactly to the narrow space by the entrance, the back space will be a hospitality area consisting of sizable counter and long bench, where customer can relax. By utilising the height of the vaulted ceiling, they hung squid fishing boat pendant lights like on mobile and filled the big space with light. Upstairs, the second floor is designed as a gallery space, providing opportunity for customers to meet new people.

Flexible board, used for the product shelf is made unburnable and has texture of mortar, taking advantage of its original unique feature. Together with the porous Ōya stone used for flooring, it provides a soft, natural palette that lends a pervasive sense of calm from the moment of entry. The façade, is entirely covered with flexible board, using interior elements, such as accent green color and squid fishing boat lamp, in order for people to realize continuity in space, letting the store stand out even in the colorful shopping street.

Due to the location on the busy street where many travelers and locals come by, the store design is aimed to blend as part of new Kyoto culture by providing casual yet cozy store space.