Aesop LUMINE Kitasenju

A celebration of local bathing culture

Located in the greater metropolitan region of Tokyo, the residential, laid-back neighbourhood of Kita-Senju remains home to many old sentos—public bathhouses. These communal spaces of tranquil sensuality provided the inspiration for the design of Aesop Lumine Kita-Senju, created in collaboration with MarsollierVillacorta LLC.

Early on in the project, the team serendipitously encountered an existing sentothat was being demolished in a neighbouring city. We were granted permission to salvage a variety of items to reuse in our new locale: locks, hinges, mirrors, stools, floor grates and a glass display cabinet take on new life in what can be seen as an abstraction of the sento experience.

Ceramic tiles—a ubiquitous bathhouse element—coat the store’s walls, floor, and furniture with relentless repetition. At the centre of the space, a generous basin reimagines the sento’s shared tubs, while a recessed alcove evokes a more intimate changing room.