Reclaimed Bricks Are Used to Design Chicago's Newest Aēsop Shop

Australian skincare brand Aēsop is renowned for its awe-inspiring boutiques, often lauded for their beautiful displays and considered use of custom materials. Some impressive standouts include its Singapore location that features corn husk strings hung from the ceiling and a Japan outpost in Kyoto where reused metal pipes and lightbulbs were utilized to create the space’s unique lighting.

For its newest Chicago boutique, Aēsop taps architecture and design collaborative Norman Kelley. To pay tribute to the city’s rich heritage, the firm used approximately 10,000 reclaimed common bricks — materials that were widely used to create some of the Windy City’s historic buildings. The space features an architectural grid motif with the bricks arranged in herringbone and pinwheel patterns across the walls and floors. The brick-and-mortar is situated on the corner of one of the city’s most stylish neighborhoods, so a non-functioning chimney had to be removed to allow for an uninterrupted view of the street. Lastly, black steel shelves are also used for product displays, while black-stained white oak was key to its striking furnishings.

Visit the Bucktown location the next time you’re in Chicago.

Aēsop Bucktown
1653 North Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647