Torafu Architects has completed ‘Aesop Samcheong’ in Seoul, Korea, its ninth retail outlet for the Australian skin care brand. The project called for the interior redesign of a single storey building located near the city’s lively gyeongbokgung palace. Positioned on a prominent plot, the existing structure measured 5 meters wide and 7.5 meters deep. The architects sought to retain the original ceiling, making visible its wooden truss.
As the building had been repeatedly renovated over the years, with a variety of mismatched materials, Torafu looked to develop a visually coherent response. Consequently, the Aesop outlet has been clad with a midnight blue color externally, and a warm off-white tone internally — lending the entire scheme a sense of unity and brightness. Large windows offer views inside the store, designed to catch the attention of passersby.
Internal fixtures and fittings are stainless steel, with surfaces and tables taking on the same deep blue color as the building’s exterior. Sinks have been united with point-of-sale counters within a single unit found at the center of the store. A sprawling network of pipes above the table provides the water supply and lighting for the sink area, while simultaneously highlighting the striking piece of furniture.
建筑师寻求保留原来的天花板,使其木桁架可见/The architects sought to retain the original ceiling, making visible its wooden truss
内部装置和配件是由不锈钢制造的/Internal fixtures and fittings are made from stainless steel
洗脸池与销售点的柜台统一起来/Sinks have been united with point-of-sale counters
温暖的白色调运用在室内/A warm off-white tone has been used internally
设计大窗户获取行人的注意/Large windows are designed to catch the attention of passersby
建筑被覆盖了午夜蓝色/The building has been clad with a midnight blue color