How To Be Different
d+a|Issue 108

Aesop has opened its first store in Penang, Malaysia. Its Retail Architectural Manager Denise Neri shares about its design inspiration and how the Australian brand conceptualises each one to be unique.

Low Shi Ping
How To Be Different

What are your favourite parts of theAesop Gurney Plaza store?

The sense of surprise and contrast from the mall surrounds is refreshing. The geometric framework of the store is intriguing and different from its neighbours. The latticelike exoskeleton is graphically striking and reveals a deep green-blue interior, where the internal space is serene and maximised without interruptions.

What was the design inspiration forthis store?

The design was conceived as an exploration of the urban condition of the modern Penang outside the mall, with its vertically framed high-rise towers. Its antecedents can be seen in the gridding and reductionist ideas of Superstudio’s Non-Stop City concept of the 1960s, and Renzo Piano’s Pompidou Centre, which broke new ground with its expressed exoskeleton-framing, functional interiors. Such landmarks of architectural thinking were referenced in the Gurney Plaza store design.

This story is from the Issue 108 edition of d+a.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Issue 108 edition of d+a.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM D+AView All
Timeless Elegance
d+a

Timeless Elegance

Italian architect, designer, and art director Pierro Lissoni’s vision for B&B Italia is characterised by his personal design sensibilities.

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 131
Revitalising Communities Through Eco-Tourism
d+a

Revitalising Communities Through Eco-Tourism

How can design contribute to environmental conservation and create sustainable communities? This is a question explored by Chat Architects, an architectural firm based in Chonburi province in Thailand.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 131
art meets minimalism
d+a

art meets minimalism

Jay Osgerby, co-founder of Barber Osgerby, shares how AXOR One Collection is set to change the future of bathroom design.

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 131
enduring legacy
d+a

enduring legacy

Vipp's CEO Morten Woldum tells us about the Danish company's pursuit of long-lasting quality and meticulous designs

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 131
in harmony with nature
d+a

in harmony with nature

Palace Hotel Tokyo’s Art Collection opens a window to the world of Japanese art based on the concept of inheriting tradition but with an innovative spirit.

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 131
seasonal expressions
d+a

seasonal expressions

Vibrant colours of the season are depicted in the striking ceiling installation at the newly refurbished Le Du in Bangkok.

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 131
preserving lanna heritage for future generation
d+a

preserving lanna heritage for future generation

The new InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping's updated design pays homage to Northern Thailand's Lanna culture.

time-read
5 mins  |
Issue 131
blank canvas
d+a

blank canvas

A family home’s white backdrop frames the tranquillity and greenery of Half Moon Island Wetland Park in Foshan, China.

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 131
three of a kind
d+a

three of a kind

This multigenerational residence brings its occupants together while allowing them to maintain their individual lifestyles.

time-read
5 mins  |
Issue 131
ichll of discovery
d+a

ichll of discovery

Formzero's Borderless House blurs the boundaries of conventional living, distilling serenity sublimity and surprise in a gardened and Miesian-inspired abode.

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 131