Aesop Brera

Vincenzo de Cotiis signed the first Aesop Italian shop: a space painted with neutral tones set in an old delicatessen of the Nineteenth century in the heart of Brera, Milan.

Vincenzo de Cotiis, Aesop Brera, Milano
The Milanese architect Vincenzo de Cotiis designed the first Aesop Italian shop being influenced by the Brera district, lively and sophisticated, but also by the building itself – a 19th-century heritage site, formerly home to a salumeria.

The store’s palette is dominated by neutral tones: pale peach plaster features on walls and ceiling; the balustrade and concrete floor are of calming grey. The serene qualities of these elements are contrasted by metallic accents effected in asymmetrical product display shelves. Functional and minimalist, crafted from textured cast aluminum, they pay discreet respects to Milan’s industrial roots.

Further contrasts emerge from the sculptural point-of-sale counter and product demonstration sink – two quietly imposing forms of molded fibreglass. Beyond the retail area lies a modest workspace furnished with restored vintage pieces and a large table reminiscent of the former occupancy.


Aesop Brera, Milan, Italy
Program: shop
Architects: Vincenzo de Cotiis
Area: 60 sqm
Completion: 2015

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