Aesop Las Salesas: A Dialogue in Heritage, Materiality and Light

In Madrid’s historic Las Salesas district, just steps from the architectural landmark Palacio Longoria, Aesop has unveiled a thoughtfully designed space that redefines retail as a place of quiet discovery and connection. Designed by long-time collaborators Ciszak Dalmas and Matteo Ferrari, the project marks the team's second Aesop store in the city—offering a distinct interpretation of the brand while remaining rooted in the local architectural language.

The design draws heavily on Spanish Modernism, most notably through the use of Trencadís, a traditional mosaic technique reimagined in a sculptural, contemporary form. Once used to decorate irregular surfaces, it now defines sweeping architectural elements within the store, transforming fragments of ceramic into a unified, textured landscape that speaks to both craft and innovation.

The material palette plays a central role in shaping the store’s sensory appeal. The interplay of light and shadow—made possible through hammered Catedral glass—creates shifting atmospheres throughout the day, reducing the need for artificial lighting. Sleek, freestanding sinks crafted from Spanish Silvestre Granito with bases of transparent glass and Alpi Walnut Burl wood appear to float within the space, enhancing the store's light-filled ambiance.

Walls rendered in fine-grain clay plaster, and with rich wood veneer, create a balanced tension between openness and intimacy. The store’s transparent, floating portico acts as a visual anchor—simultaneously threshold and focal point—inviting exploration and offering glimpses into the behind-the-scenes rituals that define Aesop’s customer experience. The layout supports fluid movement and ease of navigation, fostering a sense of openness that enhances both accessibility and engagement, while framed product displays and seating areas encourage moments of quiet interaction.

Aesop Las Salesas stands as a thoughtful response to its context—one that honours Madrid’s cultural identity while embracing a forward-looking design ethos. By merging heritage techniques with a modern, human-centred approach, the store becomes more than just a point of sale: it is a space of connection, discovery, and enduring craft.

Credits

Architects: Ciszak Dalmas / Matteo Ferrari

Photography: Salva López

VIEW STORY

Galerie Philia Presents Hometown

Galerie Philia, the International contemporary design and art gallery, is presenting Hometown, an exhibition of sculptural design in the heart of a landmark house in the neighbourhood of Chelsea, Manhattan. Known for representing emerging and established designers and artists, the gallery is the brainchild of the Attali brothers. Sharing a lifetime passion for art, literature and philosophy, their concept for Philia mainly sees them following a rhizomatic and transcultural approach in the way they select works, ultimately revealing the beauty of each unique creation. The gallery’s non-hierarchical curation sits apart from the ephemerality of trends and focuses instead on the true aesthetic quality of the piece - alluring and timeless. Unlike others, Galerie Philia does not focus on a single style - whether minimalist, organic or raw - but rather embraces heterogeneity. Hometown is the meeting point of the contemporary world of collectable design that is part of Galerie Philia’s repertoire, and the old charm of a prewar historical house renovated and curated by New York-based home-makers Residenza.

The gallery, which was launched in 2015, takes pride in discovering new talents, providing them with multiple international platforms to showcase their latest creations. With artists presented at Hometown for the first time ranging from Atelier Barder, Luke Malaney, Atra, Hagit Pincovici and Studio Lél, the vast exhibition spaces take the visitor through five floors and over 4000 square feet of sculptural design experience. Most design works have been commissioned especially for this spectacular exhibition.

Asking the question of what makes a home feel like a home, the curation centres around rich and noble materials, woods with accents of brass, and soft textures from Christina Z Antonio and Pietro Franceschini seatings. Assouline’s prestigious art books will complement the scenography with a selection of literature.

Galerie Philia has a strong international presence, with galleries in Geneva, New York and Singapore. In addition to its permanent spaces, the gallery organises temporary group exhibitions and artists' residencies in first-class locations around the world. For this exhibition, Galerie Philia partnered with the France-based research and curation group Eclipse, in order for them to exhibit the European fine art guests Jörg Kratz and Flora Temnouche. 

Along all those artists exhibited for the first times, Galerie Philia’s classics will be present too, including Jérôme Pereira, Frédéric Saulou, Cédric Breisacher, Lucas Morten, Sylvia Eustache-Rools, Roxane Lahidji, Mark Sturkenboom, and Rick Owens.

The Exhibition runs from May 2 - July 1. Find out more here. 

Credits

Curation: Galerie Philia

Photography: Evan Joseph (Images 1-8, 11-23) / Maison Mouton Moir (Images 9-10, 24)

VIEW STORY

Cube House by Palette Architecture

Palette Architecture is a firm focused on the creation of the built environment that enhances the daily experience of our contemporary lives. Proud to unveil Cube House, located in historic brownstone Brooklyn, New York, the late-1800s Italianate townhouse needed rescuing after previous owners stripped away the original details, partitions, and materials. A process that caused the building’s spirit to become muddled, the design brief called for the revitalization of the house's original character, with contemporary connections to history and nature.

“The architectural approach was twofold,” says Peter Miller, a Partner at Palette Architecture. “In addition to creating a threshold to the historic qualities by carving a 17-foot square hole into the rear of the home, we endeavoured to create new contemporary connections through a 20-foot cube located in the rear yard.”

The removal of the rear wall exposes the contrasting qualities of the parlor and garden levels. A thin metal portal outlines the opening, drawing attention to the contrast. On the lower level, the incision allows for a continuation of an open plan, while on the upper level, a gridded glass wall infills the portal and creates a delicate veil to the more traditional character of the upper floors. Taking cues from 19th-century Brooklyn building traditions, the glass wall becomes a porous threshold between the old and new.

The cube addition is a minimally-adorned, double-height extension that stands in contrast to the upper floors. It is free of all moldings and partitions, a characteristic that extends throughout the garden level. The narrow edging of the kitchen cabinetry, the elegantly thin borders of the custom herringbone floor, and the thin lines of each light fixture set the aesthetic of this floor. Ancillary programs such as the pantry, cellar stairs, powder room, and wine storage fill the narrow space along the Western edge of the kitchen.

“The form of the cube allows for a variety of outdoor spaces, and the carefully crafted openings accentuate connections to nature,” explains Miller. “For example, the upper face of the cube features a large, asymmetrical skylight that provides a tangible connection to the exterior environment, allowing residents to track the passage of time and weather from the interior.”

The skylight also creates a visual link between the partially-sheltered rooftop terrace above, and the people inside. The rear face of the cube features four full-length doors and a gridded glass curtain wall that faces onto a sunken brick court and manicured gardens beyond. Nestled amongst the native grasses and shrubs, several hidden seating areas were created, as well as a patio for entertaining.

In contrast to the lower floors, the upper levels are more partitioned and intricately programmed. On the first floor, guests are welcomed into an open, yet formal parlor. Large pocket doors open into a rear library leading down into the cube below. Unique Italianate trims, moldings, and colors distinguish the library and parlor, evoking a true sense of the building’s original character. A refurbished wooden staircase leads from the entry hall to the more intimate second floor. At the top of the stairs, a personal study, adorned with bookshelves and a pair of glass doors, leads out to a roof terrace overlooking the garden. The second floor also includes the primary bedroom suite, which features a working fireplace, a restored bedroom niche, and a marble-clad bathroom. The third floor features a pair of bedrooms and bathrooms, each with unique wall coverings, fixtures, and lighting. 

“The traditional and tailored aspects of the upper floors stand in contrast to the simple and airy qualities of the garden level and cube,” concludes Peter Miller. “However, the cube harmonizes them and mediates the interaction of interior and landscape, just as the incision and 'veil' mediate the two distinct interior characteristics.”

Credits

Architects: Palette Architecture 

Project Manager: Peter Miller

Design Team: Jeff Wandersman, John Sunwoo

Builder: Grant Davis Thompson

Structural Engineers: KCE Consulting Engineering

MEP Engineers: Ramierz and Azadian Analysis and Design

Landscape: Isobel Herbold Design

Suppliers: Brombal Windows, USAI, Plug Lighting, Tracy Glover Lighting, The Urban Electric Company, Barber Wilsons, Duravit, Newport Brass, Randolph Morris, Rohl, Gaggenua, Sub-zero, Wine Guardian, Zephyr

Photography: Emily Gilbert

VIEW STORY