Aesop Passeig de Gracia is a minimal space located in Barcelona, Spain, designed by Barozzi Veiga. Together with Barozzi Veiga architects, Aesop started the design process for their store on Consell de Cent Street in Barcelona by deconstructing the current space to expose its true late-nineteenth-century character. A trio of stately columns supported the lofty ceiling, giving the space its great scale and narrow girth. The new layout was then rationalized into a ballet of salutation, exploration, and rest based on a rigorous architectural understanding of how the stores operate. The façade, a large neoclassical column flanked by a thin, dark metal monolith, announces the store’s dramatic proportions. Visitors are met by a rhythmic sequence upon entering that is composed of just a few evocative and precisely placed elements. A burnished steel counter glides along one wall and vanishes into the room’s depths, providing a horizontal contrast to the towering columns. Visitors can soak their hands and refresh their senses by using the basins included in this component. Only three and a half meters distant, the sturdy steel shelves on the opposite wall organize the display of our product line while reinforcing the linear language.

Photography courtesy of Aesop