Aesop Wall Street by Jakob Sprenger Interiors

Walking along Manhattan’s Wall Street, a large black flag with ‘Aesop’ in white text may be the last thing one would expect to see. However, the measured calm of Aesop Wall Street amid the energy of the Financial District is an intriguing juxtaposition befitting the confidence of both.

Housed within a 37-storey Art Deco skyscraper, this addition to the Collingwood-based skincare company’s retail offering features the original ‘Munson Building’ brass plaque above the entranceway, a nod to the building’s history and a hint at what’s to come. Behind the original facade, the sense of repose that immediately overcomes you is tangible, a dramatic shift from the palpable.

Behind the original facade, the sense of repose that immediately overcomes you is tangible, a dramatic shift from the palpable.

Interior designer Jakob Sprenger harmoniously blends the heritage of the building, the urban locale and Aesop’s own refined standing with an approach centring on “restoring integrity”. The floors, ceiling and walls are carefully retained, while the existing high ceilings, Fior di Pesco marble, Grecian-style pilasters and ornate crown mouldings inspire the new interior detailing. Sprenger explains his “intention was to preserve the existing Art Deco grandeur of the space… and add a new layer of exclusively freestanding furniture”. The result is a space that feels at once charming and opulent yet calm and sophisticated.

A sculptural brass basin shimmers in the soft glow of a vintage chandelier from the 1960s, complemented by an Art Deco brass clock. Maple shelving with patinated brass and fabric inlay encourages customers to admire the Aesop range, with curved frames gently illuminating the products in a nod to the building’s maritime past. Walking deeper into the store, a small room in soothing opaque hues offers a more intimate setting to explore Aesop’s fragrance collection.

The result is a space that feels at once charming and opulent yet calm and sophisticated.

Sprenger carefully reinvigorates the bones of the existing property to create an experience far removed from the busy surrounds. The essence of the Aesop brand and the glamour and energy of Wall Street beautifully intertwine in this tranquil space, encouraging a perfect moment for stillness and contemplation.

Interior design by Jakob Sprenger Interiors.