In the heart of Barcelona‘s bustling Avinguda Diagonal, a new Aesop store stands as a tribute to the city’s rich architectural heritage. Designed by the Spanish studio Mesura, the space transcends mere retail, becoming a curated exhibition of salvaged history. Rather than imposing a new aesthetic, Mesura chose to unearth and celebrate the city’s past, utilizing remnants of old fountains, archways, and Gothic buildings to create a truly unique and evocative interior.
The store’s single, asymmetric room is defined by the striking presence of chunky basins and shelving crafted from Montjuïc stone. This native Barcelona stone, now a precious and scarce resource due to the cessation of quarrying, forms the core of the design narrative. Mesura painstakingly collected 78 pieces of this stone from a defunct quarry nearby, a place where local stonemason Barbany preserves fragments of demolished 19th-century structures. These salvaged pieces, unearthed through a process of what the studio calls “pseudo-archaeology,” include relics from Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, decorative archways, fountains, and plinths – all silent witnesses to the city’s evolving story.
The studio’s approach was one of reverence. Each stone was carefully cleaned, removing dirt and debris, but the natural patina and signs of previous use were intentionally preserved. “We avoided altering the stones’ natural patina or signs of previous use, as these details add to their character and historical significance,” explains studio co-founder Benjamín Iborra. “No paint or surface treatments were applied. Instead, we celebrated the raw, authentic textures of the stone, enhancing its natural beauty and reinforcing its connection to the past.”
The arrangement of the stones within the 2.7-meter-high room was a delicate and considered process, requiring the use of a small crane. Mesura meticulously planned the layout, informed by the “functional role” each piece would play within the store. Rounder, deeper stones were repurposed as basins, while wider, shallower fragments became low-slung shelving for Aesop’s signature products. “We adhered strictly to the concept of stacking stone upon stone,” Iborra notes. Where additional height was needed, smaller stones were employed to achieve the desired elevation, showcasing a commitment to traditional building techniques.
To integrate modern functionality without compromising the integrity of the historical materials, stainless steel was used to create removable additions – small slide-in cupboards, trays, and taps for the basins. These additions, along with a duo of mirrored shelving units, provide a subtle counterpoint to the ancient stone. The walls and ceilings, finished in textured white stucco, further enhance the focus on the Montjuïc stone, while the white-tiled flooring provides a clean and contemporary base.
The process of bringing this vision to life was meticulous. Before installation, Mesura created 3D-printed models of each stone, allowing the team to experiment with various iterations and refine the layout before committing to the final arrangement. This careful planning extends to the installation itself: no adhesives were used on the stones, ensuring that they can be returned to the quarry should the store ever close, preserving their legacy for future generations.
“Montjuïc stone is especially significant because it is the only stone truly local to the city,” says Iborra. “With its distinctive reddish, beige, and grey tones, the stone represents Barcelona’s architectural identity.” Mesura’s Aesop store is more than just a retail space; it’s a carefully curated narrative, weaving together fragments of the past to create a contemporary experience that resonates with the very soul of Barcelona. It’s a powerful reminder that architecture can not only shape our present but also preserve and celebrate the echoes of our past.