Hankyu Umeda 8F Aesop

A modular arrangement of repurposed timber

Located within the bustling Osaka department store of the same name, Aesop Hankyu Umeda 8th floor marks our second presence in the shopping centre, blending seamlessly into the ‘Green Age’ concept space nestled on the eighth floor.

Using the floor’s homogenous palette and structural vision, our in-house Design team embarked on a creative exploration of megastructures, paying homage to the Japanese architectural movement known as Metabolism by harnessing the power of modular design, and the idea that what is created should sometimes be dismantled and rebuilt anew.

Through a careful interplay of timber and craftmanship, wooden beams salvaged from the construction of our Tokyo office are given a second life, carefully stacked on top of each other and connected using joints inspired by an ingenious traditional Japanese locking system—an embrace of change and renewal and a marriage of past and present. Preserving the essence of the original wooden pieces, the dimensions of the beams have been meticulously maintained, honouring their history and emphasising their unique character and imperfections. The design makes for easy disassembly, allowing for ongoing structural evolution—or perhaps even an eventual third life when this incarnation inevitably comes to an end.

Gently insulating the counter from the bustle of the floor’s alleys, three reclaimed vintage baby baths have been converted into a row of sinks, providing visitors and staff alike with an unusual conversation starter before the skin care consultation starts.