Aesop Sydney Airport

Sitting in a plane at night can feel like travelling outside of time.

Sitting in a plane at night can feel like travelling outside of time. The hands of the clock, the rotation of the Earth, the body’s circadian rhythm—given enough altitude, all seems suspended. Through the window, landscapes are replaced by abstract luminous signals: cities and runways, viewed from above, look more like geometric symbols than physical realities. Though the fuselage is propelled through the air at great speed, the cabin seems to float in place.

The ceiling and floor at our Sydney Airport Terminal 1 store appear to hover in relation to each other. The two expanses, designed by the our in-house architects, respond to one another without touching—as though an opposive, anti-gravitational force prevented contact. Rubber on the floors and shelving adds to the impression of suspension, the soft surface underfoot contrasting with the terminal’s rigid walkways. Linoleum, covering the furniture panels, reinforces this absorbing sensation.

The two counters are arranged along lines emanating from a single, invisible vanishing point, creating an accentuated perspective. The right volume houses a Fragrance Library, encouraging hands-on exploration of our full range of Eaux de Parfum. The central island is dedicated to individual consultations around two sinks, while the shelves on the left wall hold the brand’s skin, hair, and body care formulations. From outside, our Sydney Airport Terminal 1 store draws in trompe-l’œil the familiar geometry of runway lights. From inside, it produces that unsettling sensation, particular to long journeys aloft, of being adrift in space and time.