For their third Houston space the Galleria Aesop was designed as a distinct experience, separate from the tyipcal american mall. In collaboration with MLKK Studio we delivered an out of this world experience.

In 1961, as Cold War tensions mounted, it was announced that Houston’s Clear Lake area had been selected as the site for a new space exploration hub. The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center housed the laboratories, testing facilities, and mission control for the Apollo programme, earning Houston the nickname of ‘space city’.

Designed in partnership with collaborators Mlkk Studio, Aesop's third signature store in the city pays homage to this history. Situated within the Galleria retail centre, it is distinguished by its curving forms and a material palette recalling midcentury industry.

A dramatic façade invites exploration, its series of horizontal panels sliding open to reveal an interior of bold geometry, neutral tones, and muted lighting. Clad in hand-applied plaster, the walls and ceiling assume a continuous presence. A centrally positioned concrete sink reprises the curved aspect of the store’s entrance.

Architect of Record: CONTENT | Architect: MLKK Studio | Contractor: Hirsch Construction