Little over eight years after first opening up shop in Munich, cosmetics brand Aesop has opened a second retail space in the city’s historic downtown area. Situated on Sendlingerstrasse, a bustling pedestrian shopping artery, the store occupies a ground floor unit on the premises of a seven-storey, early 20th-century building. Needless to say, given Aesop‘s reputation in design-led retail, the interior design has been meticulously developed by its in-house design team. Inspired by the so-called International Style which influenced architecture across large swaths of Europe in the 1920s and 1930s, the aesthetic is understated and functional. A palette of matching materials, such as natural stone, timber and patinated metal, captured by a variety of furnishings. Taking centre stage is a large metal counter with no less than four built-in sinks which ties in with the wall-mounted cabinets, sales counter and other interior elements crafted from the same material. In a semi-secluded back room, shielded by a panel of floor-to-ceiling frosted glass, an intimate seating area can be found paired with a metal cabinet with built-in sink. A suspended, curved light fixture adds a distinct contemporary touch to the setting. Interestingly, some of the furnishings come from other stores, such as the tiered wall console, and the shelving in the back room which have been designed by renowned Milanese design practice BBPR for Olivetti. The new Aesop store stocks the brand’s full range of face, body and hair care products, in addition to fragrances and home products.