Aesop’s first-ever Beijing shop has opened its doors within a charming siheyuan, or courtyard house, in the Wangfujing area, conceived jointly by Beijing-based design studio atelier suasua, and Aesop’s global head of design Marianne Lardilleux.
Once a historic enclave of royal residences, the Wangfujing area is now a vibrant shopping hub replete with beautifully well-preserved siheyuan buildings.
This blend of old and new makes it a favoured location for international brands looking to establish a presence in China, with Aesop being one of the latest – and most exquisite – additions.
Dubbed Aesop WF Central House 19, the new store is situated within a reconfigured royal mansion's courtyard, with its architecture reportedly modelled after a residence once owned by the cousin of Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
It retains the traditional high ceilings and wooden rafters typical of siheyuan architecture, designed to enhance natural light and airflow.
Lardilleux and the atelier suasua team have preserved the original architecture, while weaving together the old charm of Ming-style furniture and modern design elements for a meticulous old-mix-new charm that is uniquely Beijing.
The main hall, traditionally the heart of daily life in a siheyuan, now displays Aesop's products in large teak structures reminiscent of classic Ming and Qing dynasty step-beds. Hidden within these units are red copper sinks, revealing themselves only upon closer inspection.
Outside, the courtyard features a pergola inspired by local designs used for shade and cooling, making for a poetic fusion where historical and contemporary collide.