Creative Space: Aesop

In Collingwood’s industrial zone, the head office for skincare brand Aesop quietly cultivates the company’s signature aesthetic inside the serenity of its new workspace designed by Carr.

Can zen be extreme? It’s an odd contradiction, but if anyone was going to make the attempt it would be Antipodean grooming company Aesop. You notice it as soon as you walk past the formidable steel door, complete with the original cast-metal handle from Aesop’s first premises, symbolising the brand’s commitment to its roots. The quiet hush that engulfs you as you step into the new head office and adjoining lab at the 88 Langridge workplace precinct, effectively cutting off the hum of all outside noise, is almost monastic.

The quiet hush that engulfs you as you step into the new head office and adjoining lab at the 88 Langridge workplace precinct, effectively cutting off the hum of all outside noise, is almost monastic.

A garage in its former life, the space retains much of its industrial bones in its current incarnation. Having tapped Melbourne-based studio Carr to conduct the design, the philosophy of the space is clear: honour what exists. The original brick and concrete shell of the building has been preserved, celebrating its historical textures and natural light sources. This approach not only respects the structure’s past but also enhances its functional purpose. The use of galvanised steel and whitewashed brick creates a harmonious balance between industrial ruggedness and refined aesthetics, providing a stimulating environment for workers and visitors alike.

“We believe that well-considered design improves lives and we implement this ethos in every aspect of the company, from product packaging to interior architecture,” says Marianne Lardilleux, global retail design director at Aesop.

Having tapped Melbourne-based studio Carr to conduct the design, the philosophy of the space is clear: honour what exists.

External light floods the space, creating an interplay of shadows that adds depth and movement. The thoughtful design also fosters a contemplative atmosphere, aligning with Aesop’s emphasis on quality, care and contextual relevance. The laboratory’s understated elegance encourages creativity and meticulous attention to detail, which is essential for Aesop’s skincare innovations. “To accommodate our team of skilled chemical scientists, there are moments of domesticity and calm that create a truly unique working space,” says Lardilleux. “We hope that their daily experience of working in the lab is comfortable, stimulating and nourishing.”

But the true marvel is the lab, a galvanised-steel cube inserted on the second level that gives the impression of floating in space. “Universally, labs are on the first floor,” says Samy Hamada, Aesop’s research and development director. “So putting it on the second floor caused unique problems, because now you have to go up [with heavy machinery and chemicals].” Rejecting the familiar white and chrome of traditional lab layouts, Hamada worked with Carr to develop a softer, streamlined concept that would still communicate the subtleties of the brand’s underpinning philosophies. Benches and cabinetry are finished in a muted eggshell tone and illuminated by both overhead and natural lighting, courtesy of windows along one wall that remain slightly open even during development phases. This, says Hamada, ensures that products are made in -“living conditions”.

The use of galvanised steel and whitewashed brick creates a harmonious balance between industrial ruggedness and refined aesthetics, providing a stimulating environment for workers and visitors alike.

With 10 benches to accommodate two people, at least, Hamada says that efficiency is the most important element in the lab. Rather than partitions between benches, for instance, there is a recess for instruments and daily essentials like gloves and cleaning products, including hand soap – Aesop, of course. Storage is minimal and corners are curved, providing a more organic and softer silhouette to the fit-out. The Collingwood space is the fifth fit-out that Hamada has overseen, stripped back to its bare necessities yet the most articulated when it comes to blending function and form. Walking through, there’s a sense of everything in its place and a place for everything.

Despite this pared-back approach, there is still a deliberate, lingering resemblance to the Aesop retail experience, says Hamada. “If you took the cupboards out of the lab and put them into a store in the CBD, it could still effectively be an Aesop store that communicates through.”

For Aesop, the lab is as important to the company’s aesthetic structure as the retail space. “At Aesop, we like to think of functionality and pragmatics rather than minimalism for its own sake,” says Lardilleux. “Every aspect of our stores and offices is chosen deliberately, nothing is superfluous. The main difference is that our stores respond to their local context and neighbourhood in a more overt way, while our offices are more globally consistent. Our main priority is the people who inhabit our spaces – we want to accommodate them as comfortably as possible, which includes the comfort that comes from visual order.”