The store that moves: Bringing Warmth and Craft to Aesop De Meent
At Sebastian Cox Studio, we believe the spaces we inhabit should tell stories — not only through materials and design language, but through the emotion they evoke. That was the guiding principle behind our latest collaboration with Aesop: the new Aesop De Meent store in Rotterdam. Conceived as a haven of northern-European domesticity, the store was imagined as a tribute to the familiar comfort of visiting a relative’s home in the Dutch countryside. Together with Aesop, we set out to create an interior that feels warm, grounded, and human — a space that invites pause and conversation.
The design is anchored in solid English-grown cherry wood, chosen for its gentle warmth and subtle grain. Across two storeys, we developed a language of simple, practical joinery that reflects the region’s honest material traditions. The atmosphere is quiet and considered, with every element serving a purpose — and yet, there is a poetry in the detail.
One unexpected source of inspiration was an antique door we encountered during the early stages of the design process. Its exaggerated tolerances — the visible gaps between the panels and the frame — allowed the solid wood to move and breathe with the seasons, without compromising its function. This humble detail became a guiding idea for the project. We began to celebrate the space between elements — designing with intention around the gaps, joins, and transitions, rather than masking them.
This idea of functional looseness, of honouring material behaviour, found its way into every aspect of the space. From the way cabinetry is assembled to the thoughtful spacing between wall panels, there’s an honesty in how the store has been constructed.
For us, Aesop De Meent is more than a retail environment. It’s a crafted experience — a tactile, emotional space rooted in place and memory. We’re proud to have brought our values of material integrity, simplicity, and storytelling to this collaboration, and to contribute to a space where daily rituals are elevated through design.
Visit Aesop De Meent Location: De Meent 50, 3011 JM Rotterdam, Netherlands Email: demeent@aesop.com Phone: +31 020 228 3040
Opening Hours: Monday: Closed Tuesday: 10:00am – 6:00pm Wednesday: 10:00am – 6:00pm Thursday: 10:00am – 6:00pm Friday: 10:00am – 7:00pm Saturday: 10:00am – 6:00pm
