KTA’s design for Aesop’s new signature store in Adelaide features the use of a single material – sustainably sourced Blackbutt ply sheet to create an immersive space that is intimate and visually calm. Simple forms are enriched through the expression of the grain of the ply sheets which are either plain or perforated. The choice of timber as the dominant element in our palette fits with the artisan vision developed for this store – one that in subtle ways represents the craft and care that goes into the making of Aesop products and the space they are housed within. The perforated timber screens which dress the shopfront and form the operable doors filter the light to provide a shady retreat and a soothing interval within the conservatory aesthetic of the arcade. During business hours the lower screens fold back to present an open front that invites customers into the space.