Enjoy 2 free articles a month. For unlimited access, get a membership now.

Aesop Yorkville

Odami

SAVE SUBMISSION
Silver
Silver
Sales counter and private consultation area - John Alunan
Main retail washbasin and product display - John Alunan
Private consultation area - John Alunan
Sales counter and private consultation area - John Alunan

1 / 8

Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Single-Brand Store
7.98
8.02
8.28
6.02
7.57
Ad de Hond
Ad de Hond Founder and Creative Director at ADH.design
as always Aesop knows how to create...
7.1
8.08
8.07
4.04
6.82
Catalina Soffia Baeza
Catalina Soffia Baeza Creative Director at Yáneken
8.14
9.03
8.34
5.27
7.7
Darren Xu
Darren Xu Founder and CEO at Spider Creative
8.23
8.31
8.4
7.23
8.04
Mauro Brigham
Mauro Brigham Founder and Creative Director at ncbham
The minimal material palette enhanc...
8.25
8
8.5
6.25
7.75
Asha Sairam
Asha Sairam Principal at Studio Lotus
I appreciate the narrative, develop...
8.2
8.25
8
6
7.61
Philip Staszewski
Philip Staszewski Partner Architect at Ivy Studio
Although designed for an internatio...
8.5
9
9
7.5
8.5
Simon Schmolling
Simon Schmolling Head of Architecture at Meiré und Meiré
7.8
8.38
8.47
6.17
7.71
Mark Bithrey
Mark Bithrey Founder and Creative Director at B3 Designers
7
7.5
9
5
7.13
Daniel Kaven
Daniel Kaven Co-Founder at William Kaven Architecture
8.53
8.1
8.39
7.29
8.08
Andrew Martin
Andrew Martin Founder and Creative Director at AMD Interior Architecture
Simple and powerful...
8
7
8
6
7.25
Pengzhan Du
Pengzhan Du Chief Architect at Engineering Design Management Center of Bureau of public works of Shenzhen Municipality
7.5
7.8
7.5
6
7.2
Zhongli Wang
Zhongli Wang Partner at Catanian
7.39
6.88
6.96
6.99
7.06
Steve Lastro
Steve Lastro CEO and Future of Living Advisor at Linq-X
8
7.5
8
6
7.38
Lindsay Roth
Lindsay Roth Design Director at Gensler
I just love the concept for this an...
9
8
9
3
7.25
Katie Kasabalis
Katie Kasabalis Cofounder at Kasawoo
Smart use to the handle motif to li...
8
8.5
8.5
7.5
8.13
Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
GRAND JURY VOTES
Shortlisted - Single-Brand Store of the Year
7.98
8.02
8.28
6.42
7.68
Victoria Schneyer
Victoria Schneyer Global Head of Store Design at Hugo Boss
Aesthetically rich and well execute...
7.98
8.02
8.28
6.02
7.58
Christopher Ortiz
Christopher Ortiz Project Designer at VLK Architects
8
8.02
8.28
8
8.08
Richard Kylberg
Richard Kylberg CEO and Head of Customer Success at Blink the Design Agency
7.98
8.02
8.28
6.02
7.58
Marianne Stroyeva
Marianne Stroyeva Senior Retail Design Manager at adidas
This space effortlessly blends trad...
7.98
8.02
8.28
6.02
7.58
Andras Klopfer
Andras Klopfer Managing Partner at BWM Retail
It is great that an international b...
7.98
8.02
8.28
6.02
7.58
Designer
Client
Aesop
Floor area
96 ㎡
Completion
2022
Social Media
Instagram Facebook Linkedin
Lighting
Finishes
Plumbing
Finishes
Finishes

The 1960s brought about the erasure of entire neighbourhoods in Toronto, replaced with expansive new developments. Yorkville, however, stood in sharp contrast. By preserving and adapting many of its original Victorian houses, and therefore maintaining a more human scale, the area fostered a bustling street life, making it a unique destination within the downtown core.

Aesop Yorkville pays homage to the neighbourhood’s history and architectural character to lend the space an inviting, domestic atmosphere. Organizationally, cues are taken from nearby gathering places. Surrounding a large, open area, the perimeter is lined with vertical divisions which not only emphasize the verticality of the space, but delineate the program into smaller enclaves. Between these partitions, traditional wooden spindles – characteristic of the Victorian porches and staircases of the nearby houses – are rethought as unconventional wainscoting. Though familiar up close, their tight spacing resolves them into something new, a sculpted surface to manipulate light and shadow. Further recalling the warmth of a Victorian interior, the paneling is coated with a deep burgundy paint.

Carved out within the wall segments, three revolving cylinders theatrically reveal Aesop’s expanded fragrance line, as well as an infusion chamber, the company’s first in Canada.

Sitting in the middle of the space, the shared wash basin reinterprets the particular geometries of Victorian pedestal sinks, with their articulated corners, rounded edges, and heavy top volume perched on a recessed base. A second sink is quietly nestled in the opposite corner, offering a more private customer experience.