Whether a casual poolside gathering or a languid dip in the ocean, Australians are an enthusiastically amphibian people.
The story of Sydney’s intimate relationship with the water is told through observant detail at the recently completed Aesop in Paddington. Iconic local landmarks significant to Sydney’s avid bathing culture, including the scenic Bondi to Bronte trail and the city’s picturesque sea baths, are longingly referenced here in the new signature store.
Each material is selected to express a particular feeling of place. The interior is skimmed in a grey-green pebble mix, a robust granular surface evocative of rocky shorelines, or the no-frills render of a suburban pool. Applied to the ceiling and walls, this textural continuity makes for a deeply immersive experience.
Soft, coved corners and recessed niches emphasise the design’s organic quality. Steel shelves in Eucalypt green echo the muted hues of the interior shell, and introduce a recognisably Australian colour palette.
Dividing the space is a central island, housing an extruded vessel which spans its length. The sand-coloured travertine slab ends simulate the rugged contours and irregular strata of seaside cliffs.
